The EU Policies for citizens

3.1. Consumer Policy

Under the consumer protection section of the European Union Treaty, the EU aims are to contribute to safeguarding the health, safety and economic interests of consumers. In addition to ensuring a high level of protection through legislation, information and education initiatives have also been undertaken. Consumer interests are also taken into account in a wide range of other EU policies. The most important legislative measures are those adopted as part of the single market. Among the measures already in force are directives covering:

• price indications on foodstuffs and non-food products,
• misleading advertising, distance selling and consumer credit,
• unfair terms in consumer contracts,
• specific measures protecting purchasers of package tours and time shares.

Other EU initiatives supplement measures taken by national Governments. There are also several non-binding recommendations and resolutions made by the Council. These cover a wide range of consumer issues - from credit card systems to education.

Other EU policies also have an important impact on consumer policy. Perhaps the most significant example of this is the Common Agricultural Policy through price support but also quality control of the agricultural produce (i.e. BSE crisis).

The Commission adopted a strategy for taking consumer policy into the new millennium. This set three targets:

• a more effective voice for the consumer in the EU will be particularly important as policy decisions become technically more complex. Consultation procedures are being honed to ensure that consumer interests are more consistently taken into account. Better coordination among local/national consumer groups will be promoted through networking and information activities and a hotline to the Commission for these groups is in place,
• a high level of health and safety is in the interests of business as well as consumers. Both benefit from a more systematic approach to risk analysis. Application of the precautionary principle in food and product safety is being developed and consumer concerns about the labelling, hygiene and inspection of food need to be tackled,
• safeguarding the economic interests of EU consumers means dealing with concerns about "miracle products", misleading health claims and pyramid selling. Further goals include boosting confidence in electronic payment means and encouraging low-cost cross-border retail payments and a consumer-friendly market in financial services.

3.2. Education and Cultural Policy

Education was not formally integrated into the EU policy portfolio until the 1993 Maastricht Treaty. Despite this, the first Community legislation having an impact in the education sector was adopted in the sixties. These early directives dealt with mutual recognition of qualifications. Achieving recognition by one Member State of a qualification obtained in another was a fundamental building block in establishing the freedom to provide services and a pre-condition for implementing the free movement of workers in the single market.

Fundamental to the implementation of the freedom to provide services across borders and to the free movement of workers in the single market. Provisions already in force cover the legal profession, the medical profession (doctors, dentists, vets, nurses, midwives, pharmacists), architecture, commerce and industry, the transport sector, agriculture, the film industry and the self employed. Furthermore, in 1989, a general system was introduced for the recognition of higher education degrees and diplomas and this has since been extended to cover professional education and training.

Widely regarded as being among the most visible and beneficial initiatives, the EU has develop wide number of initiatives to promote student mobility.

The most famous of these is the 1987 Erasmus programme. Built on a system of recognition of course credits, Erasmus allows university students to study for one year in a different Member State.

In its post-Maastricht form, and under the banner of Socrates (euro 920 million for the period 1995-99) Erasmus has been supplemented by Comenius (partnerships between schools and colleges in different Member States), Lingua (promotion of language training), Minerva (open and distance learning - Information and Communication Technologies in the field of education) and Arion (cooperation in education theory).

A separate programme - Leonardo (euro 620 million, 1995-1999) - was also put in place for vocational training exchanges. This gives young school leavers, students and graduates the chance to receive vocational training. It is also open to adults seeking similar qualifications. In addition to education and training, there are 2 EU programmes for young people – the 1995 "Youth for Europe" scheme (euro 126 million 1995-99) and the "European Voluntary Service", formally established in 1998 after a 2-year pilot phase.

There is an increasing tendency for these programmes to be extended beyond the borders of the EU. All apply to the EFTA States participating in the EEA (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and are being extended to the countries pursuing accession negotiations to join the EU.

A separate initiative, Tempus, funds exchanges with other countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The EU also has separate education cooperation programmes with the developing countries of Asia, Latin America, the USA, Canada and 71 States in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Under both Socrates and the European Social Fund, a growing number of initiatives target ethnic minorities, the disabled and women returning to work.

Among the many EU agencies in the education sector, the oldest is the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (known by its French acronym CEDEFOP) which was established in 1975 and now has its seat in Thessaloniki. Others include the European Training Foundation (Turin), the European University Institute (Florence) and an information network on education in Europe - EURYDICE. National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARICs) have also been created in all Member States.

3.3. Employment Policy

Since 1997, unemployment in Europe has been on the retreat. Despite this improvement, job creation remains one of the Union's key objectives. A high level of employment is a prerequisite for social justice and social cohesion.

According to Eurostat, average unemployment in the European Union was 9% in January 2000. An estimated 15.5 million persons were unemployed, as opposed to almost 18 million in 1997.The improvement in the job situation in Europe is partly due to faster growth since 1997 (2.5% growth in 1997, as opposed to 1.8% in 1996, which was confirmed in 1998 (2.6%), in spite of a slowdown in 1999 (2.1%)), and partly to the various actions taken in the framework of the European employment strategy.

The Community employment strategy was worked out at the Luxembourg, Cardiff and Cologne European Councils. During these summits the Heads of State and Government of the 15 Member States stressed their commitment to combating unemployment.

A new employment title was introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty, according to which promotion of employment is a "matter of common concern" of the Member States and one of the Community's goals. In order to make the most of these new provisions, the Heads of State and Government decided to immediately apply the new provisions introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty in support of the coordinated employment strategy, without awaiting their entry into force on 1 May 1999. This strategy is based on:

• the consideration of employment in the formulation and implementation of Community policies and activities,
• the introduction at Community level of coordination mechanisms comprising:

1. an annual joint report on employment by the Council and Commission, on the basis of which the European Council adopts conclusions,

2. adoption by the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, of guidelines on employment which must be consistent with the broad guidelines on economic policy,

3. a system of monitoring implementation of the guidelines, similar to that for economic policies, and that may result in recommendations to the Member States in the area of employment policy,

4. creation of an Employment Committee to promote coordination of Member States' employment and labour market policies and to formulate pertinent opinions,

5. possible adoption by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, of incentive measures, particularly in the form of pilot projects.

3.4. Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

European Political Cooperation began in the 1970s and aimed to give a political dimension to the EU's growing international role. Over time, the added value of Member States speaking with one voice has become increasingly evident. Eventually, the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 set up a formal Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP, French acronym PESC). This is an inter-governmental area, legally separate from the European Community, although the Commission is fully associated with CFSP. EU governments now exchange views on an hour-by-hour basis, and the EU reaches common positions on all key foreign policy issues.

When the Amsterdam Treaty came into force in May 1999, it included measures to strengthen CFSP. In particular, a new post was created of High Representative for CFSP, to coordinate CFSP and act as a public face for EU foreign policy worldwide.

The first High Representative is Javier Solana, formerly Secretary-General of NATO. The European Union is emerging as a major political player on the world stage. Dialogue on political issues takes place at all levels. Regular summit meetings at head of state level are held with key partners such as the United States, Japan, Russia and, most recently, China. The President of the Council of Ministers and the President of the Commission represent the EU in these meetings, now joined by the High Representative.

Under the CFSP, Member States co-ordinate an EU position on a range of pressing foreign policy issues. Respect for human rights is an EU priority across the globe - frequent formal protests are made to express concerns to third countries.

09.10.2012