For centuries Europe was plagued by wars and divisions. But in the last 50 years or so, the countries of this old continent have at last been coming togetherFor centuries Europe was plagued by wars and divisions. But in the last 50 years or so, the countries of this old continent have at last been coming together in peace, friendship and unity, to work for a better Europe and a better world.
We Europeans belong to many different countries, with different languages, traditions, customs and beliefs. Yet we belong together, like a big family, for all sorts of reasons. Here are some of them.
• We have shared this continent for thousands of years.
• Our languages are often related to one another.
• Our traditions, customs and festivals often have the same origins.
• We share and enjoy the beautiful music and art, and the many plays and stories, that people from all over Europe have given us, down the centuries.
• Almost everyone in Europe believes in things like fair play, neighbourliness, freedom to have your own opinions, respect for each other and caring for people in need.
• The common market is one of the European Union’s greatest achievements. Restrictions between member countries on trade and free competition have gradually been eliminated, with the result that standards of living have increased.
So we enjoy what’s different and special about our own country and region, but we also enjoy what we have in common as Europeans:
EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP(more)(less)
The European Union must remain ‘strong and proud’, say two local politicians in Cornwall, South West England. They talk about how important the EUThe European Union must remain ‘strong and proud’, say two local politicians in Cornwall, South West England. They talk about how important the EU has been in improving living standards and making things fairer for people, not just in Cornwall, but across the whole of Europe. As an Objective 1 Region, Cornwall has received money from the EU, and has used some of it to create a university to encourage young people to stay in the region instead of moving away. Everyone in the local community has benefited from the EU – not just economically, but in areas such as employment rights. Most importantly, the EU has brought peace and prosperity to Europe. They accept that the EU isn’t perfect, but Andrew says that ‘the idea of wanting to work together for everybody’s benefit is fantastic!’(more)(less)
Mobility and Job skills: to learn languages and to go abroad a positive experience: The ability to understand and communicate in more than one languageMobility and Job skills: to learn languages and to go abroad a positive experience: The ability to understand and communicate in more than one language - already a daily reality for the majority of people across the globe - is a desirable life-skill for all European citizens. Learning and speaking other languages encourages us to become more open to others, their cultures and outlooks; it enables us to take advantage of the freedom to work or study abroad(more)(less)
Jose Luis de Cea starts with a role-play exercise where the students go to the future and become Managers looking for hiring an employee. Which are theJose Luis de Cea starts with a role-play exercise where the students go to the future and become Managers looking for hiring an employee. Which are the most suitable skills and qualifications?: Job Offer: “Find the best candidate to work as the general manager of our new office in London. He/She will have to build a competitive team and expand our brand in the European market.(more)(less)
Matthew is a volunteer at GOFA – ‘Good Old Furniture Available’, a project which refurbishes unwanted furniture and redistributes it to people inMatthew is a volunteer at GOFA – ‘Good Old Furniture Available’, a project which refurbishes unwanted furniture and redistributes it to people in the community who need it, for example people on low incomes, so it doesn’t end up as landfill waste. Matthew got involved in the project because he was struggling in his life, and needed something positive to do; with the help of his social worker he started working as a volunteer in collecting and delivering the furniture, and helping in the furniture warehouse. He feels that this experience has improved his self-confidence and helped get him back to work. He thinks volunteering like this for young people is character building, gives them something constructive to do, and is a good introduction to work; it provides opportunities and has social benefits as well as helping the environment. He thinks the EU should encourage the involvement of volunteer schemes and promote projects like this, to inspire others to do the same.(more)(less)
Justin Olusunde works for an organisation called ReZolve, which runs sustainability projects that have not only environmental objectives, but encompassJustin Olusunde works for an organisation called ReZolve, which runs sustainability projects that have not only environmental objectives, but encompass economic and social sustainability goals as well - the projects offer young people opportunities for training, voluntary work, and paid employment. Young people are an essential part of what the organisation does. Justin says that young people’s involvement is important because they represent the future of the environment, and they are keen to become involved because they are committed to it. He says that Third Sector organisations have a crucial role to play in building bridges between young people and environmental concerns across Europe, because it offers a unique experience and is very successful in reaching young people who are disaffected from governmental bodies.(more)(less)
So says Guy, from Cornwall Waste Action; Guy’s main concern is how to get young people involved in the management of waste action projects, as well asSo says Guy, from Cornwall Waste Action; Guy’s main concern is how to get young people involved in the management of waste action projects, as well as at a practical level; in the UK, this means working as part of a volunteer Board of Trustees to develop and oversee the work of organisations and develop projects. Many of these Boards have only older people, but young people’s involvement is essential for taking these initiatives forward into the future. He also says that more networking is needed between UK and EU projects with similar objectives; similar initiatives are in very different situations across the EU – quite strong in the UK but not everywhere. He describes one local project for developing community composting schemes, which has sister projects in some other EU member states; the UK partner has just received European Compost Demonstration Status because of the success of its social outcomes. But more partnership work is needed.(more)(less)
Justin Olusunde, from Re-Zolve, describes some community projects they run to prevent unwanted goods from ending up in landfill – and in which many youngJustin Olusunde, from Re-Zolve, describes some community projects they run to prevent unwanted goods from ending up in landfill – and in which many young people are involved as volunteers, trainees, and paid workers. These include Resource, which takes unwanted furniture and white goods eg fridges, and refurbishes them for sale to local people at cheap prices; and ShreddyBed, which makes animal bedding from waste card, which is used by farmers, horse owners, and any animals needing bedding – even alpacas! Justin is concerned that projects like these seem to be well represented in the UK but less so in other EU countries; he would like to see successful projects like these helping others getting established in other countries – similar projects could even be franchised across the whole of Europe.(more)(less)
Entrevista com alguns jovens portugueses, presentes no dia do emprego, em Coimbra, no dia 26/09/2007 e que nos falam das suas expectativas e da sua disposiçãoEntrevista com alguns jovens portugueses, presentes no dia do emprego, em Coimbra, no dia 26/09/2007 e que nos falam das suas expectativas e da sua disposição de procurar trabalho noutros países da UE.
Criada em 1993, a EURES é uma rede de cooperação entre a Comissão Europeia e os Serviços Públicos de Emprego dos Estados-Membros do EEE (os países da UE, e a Noruega, a Islândia e o Liechtenstein), e ainda outras organizações parceiras. A Suíça integra igualmente a cooperação EURES. Os recursos conjuntos dos membros e parceiros EURES fornecem uma base sólida para que a rede EURES preste serviços de elevada qualidade a trabalhadores e empregadores.
O objectivo da EURES consiste em prestar informação, aconselhamento e serviços de recrutamento/colocação (adequação da oferta e da procura de mão-de-obra) em benefício de trabalhadores e empregadores, bem como de qualquer cidadão que pretenda beneficiar do princípio da livre circulação de pessoas.
Interview with some young people, made during the Job Day, in Coimbra, in 26 September 2007.. They tell us about their expectations and how they face the possibility of going to work in another EU country.
Set up in 1993, EURES is a co-operation network between the European Commission and the Public Employment Services of the EEA Member States (The EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and other partner organisations. Switzerland also takes part in EURES co-operation. The joint resources of the EURES member and partner organisations provide a solid basis for the EURES network to offer high quality services for both workers and employers.
The purpose of EURES is to provide information, advice and recruitment/placement (job-matching) services for the benefit of workers and employers as well as any citizen wishing to benefit from the principle of the free movement of persons.(more)(less)
During the Job Day in Coimbra we also made some promotion of the RWE project, appealing to the many young people present there to take part in the debateDuring the Job Day in Coimbra we also made some promotion of the RWE project, appealing to the many young people present there to take part in the debate about the EU's future, that concerns all of us.
Aproveitámos a nossa presença no Dia do Emprego em Coimbra para fazer divulgação do nosso projecto junto dos muitos jovens presentes, apelando à sua participação no debate sobre o futuro da Europa.(more)(less)
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