Press release – EU job-search aid: €2.6 million for 821 former Nokia workers in Finland – Committee on Budgets

EU job-search aid worth €2,641,800 for 821 former ICT workers in Finland was approved by the Budgets Committee in a vote on Thursday.

The resolution, by rapporteur Petri Sarvamaa (EPP, FI), recommending that the aid request be approved was passed by 32 votes to 2, no abstentions.

ICT plays a key structural role in the Finnish economy, Budgets Committee MEPs note in the draft resolution. They point out that the latest redundancies at Nokia “reflect a trend that affects the Finnish technology industry as a whole, where employment numbers in the last two years are extremely unstable as a result of high pressure to increase efficiency and maintain the competitiveness of products.”

They also note that the redundancies are part of Nokia’s worldwide transformation programme, “which is needed in order to be able to compete with East Asian rivals.” The areas concerned are the regions around the cities of Helsinki, Oulu and Tampere (Helsinki-Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, Northern Ostrobothnia).

Next steps

The EGF aid still needs to be approved by Parliament as a whole, on 17 May, and by the Council of Ministers, on 15 May.

Background

The measures co-financed by the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund would help the former workers by providing them with career coaching and individual guidance, employment and business services, a variety of vocational training schemes, services for new entrepreneurs and start-up grants, hiring incentives, training-related allowances, pay subsidy and contributions towards removal costs. The Fund’s annual ceiling is €150 million.



Press release: Conclusion of the London Somalia Conference

On Thursday 11th May the UK hosted a major international conference on Somalia. Bringing together leaders from around the world, this conference accelerated progress on security sector reform, built on the international response to the ongoing drought and humanitarian crisis and agreed the new international partnership needed to keep Somalia on course for increased peace and prosperity by 2020.

Prime Minister Theresa May opened the conference. Other speakers included Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, International Development Secretary Priti Patel, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, President Farmajo of Somalia, UN Secretary General Guterres and Chairperson Faki of the African Union.

The conference focussed on the agreement of a Security Pact, adopted by Somalia and the international community, which will allow for sustainable, long-term security based on mutual accountability. The conference also ensured the adoption of a New Partnership for Somalia by the delegations, to re-commit them to working together and holding each other account to deliver the vital support and reforms that Somalia needs over the next four years.

The UK is helping to build stability in Somalia through UKAid, with a strong focus on statebuilding, stabilisation and supporting more effective and accountable institutions, as well as through the deployment of around 70 UK Armed Forces personnel, who are supporting the Somali National Army.

Britain is leading the way in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, providing food, water and medicine to over a million people. The UK reaffirmed its commitment to preventing a famine, and called on the international community to urgently step up their support before it is too late.

Read the full communiqué from the London Somalia Conference 2017 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/london-somalia-conference-2017-communique

Read the New Partnership for Somalia here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-partnership-for-somalia-for-peace-stability-and-prosperity

Read the Security Pact here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/london-somalia-conference-2017-security-pact

Further information

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China’s coal-rich province to close 18 collieries in 2017

North China’s Shanxi Province will close down 18 collieries and cut 17 million tonnes of coal production capacity this year, local authorities said.

The mines across 11 counties, include nine that produce at least 900,000 tonnes annually, according to the province’s leading group for cutting steel and coal overcapacity.

Last year, Shanxi reduced 23 million tonnes of coal capacity and shut down 25 coal mines.

With a quarter of China’s proven coal reserves, Shanxi aims to limit the number of its mines to 900 by 2020, with an average production capacity of 1.8 million tonnes annually.

Shanxi set its economic growth target at 5.5 percent this year.



China to enhance CPC leadership in cultural organizations

Central authorities have called for enhancement of cultural organizations by the Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership, according to a guideline released Thursday.

The guideline, issued by the general offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, pointed out that overall development of cultural organizations lacks vitality, with some organizations weak in CPC leadership or internal management, and some unclear about their responsibilities.

CPC leadership in cultural organizations should be strengthened and improved, and innovations should be made in management and operation systems to raise efficiency, the guideline stated.

The management system should be under the leadership of the CPC and supervised by the government. Different levels of the system should take different responsibilities and coordinate with each other, the guideline stated.

The system should have a clear structure, efficient services and proper management in order to better serve cultural institutions and workers.

“CPC leadership should be enhanced in political, ideological and organization aspects,” the guideline reads.

As a bridge that connects the Party and the government with the market and society, cultural organizations are responsible for delivering messages from the Party and the government and implementing their decisions.

According to the guideline, cultural organizations are welcome to participate in making regulations, industrial standards and criteria, in talent evaluation, and in providing consulting services.

Cultural organizations should promote entrepreneurship among the people and the transformation of the cultural industry. They should hold more activities such as training, seminars and expositions.

The guideline also said that self-discipline and credibility should be promoted among cultural organizations. Institutions of press, publication and media can set up morality committees, while Internet cultural organizations are encouraged to do their part in cyberspace control and management.

The CPC leadership should cover and be fully displayed in all cultural organizations.

Improvement should be made in fiscal, auditing and asset management systems as well as websites sponsored by cultural organizations and other online media channels, according to the guideline.

Cultural organizations are banned from cooperation with overseas organizations or individuals that endanger national security and interests. Activities held by overseas organizations in China must be managed according to law.

Leaders and cadres of the Party are not allowed to hold posts in cultural organizations before retirement or establish cultural organizations without approval, the guideline stated.



Vacancy notice – Procurement Officer (deadline: 12/06/2017)

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