18. 1. 2018 | PR
Na gradu Jable se je 18. januarja odvil drugi dialog v seriji razprav o prihodnosti Evropske unije, tokrat na temo evropske socialne razsežnosti, ki ga je organiziralo Ministrstvo za zunanje zadeve RS, udeležili pa so se ga tudi predstavniki Centra za evropsko prihodnost. Med ključnimi sogovorniki na razpravi so bili predstavniki zunanjega ministrstva ter ministrstva za delo, aktivno pa je sodelovalo preko 20 udeležencev iz državne uprave, izobraževalnih institucij, nevladnih organizacij in medijev.
V središču razprave je bil razmislek o prihodnjem evropskem socialnem modelu in odzivanju na spremembe, ki se odvijajo v evropski družbi. Evropska unija priznava močan pomen skupne evropske socialne razsežnosti, hkrati pa opozarja na različnost nacionalnih sistemov v državah članicah. Za dolgoročno stabilnost mora Evropska unija socialno kohezijo nujno okrepiti, so se strinjali udeleženci, je pa pomembno razumeti, da se le-ta v državah članicah razume in izvaja različno.
V luči rastoče neenakosti v evropski družbi, ki se kaže tudi v vzponu radikalnih idej in protievropskega duha, se odpirajo novi pogledi na vprašanja družbene kohezivnosti, kot so prekariat, novi družbeni razred ter izginjanje srednjega razreda. Med ključnimi besedami se v kontekstu razprave o socialnih modelih pojavlja koncept subsidiarnosti. Države namreč imajo možnost, da izbirajo različne odzive na socialne izzive in socialno kohezijo, naloga Evropske unije pa je uravnotežiti odgovornost držav članic.
Razprava je izhajala tudi iz zaključkov Socialnega vrha držav članic Evropske unije, ki je potekal novembra 2017 v Goetheburgu na Švedskem, poimenovanega “Za pravična delovna mesta in rast”. Na socialnem vrhu so Evropski parlament, Svet in Evropska komisija skupaj razglasili evropski steber socialnih pravic, ki ga je predsednik Evropske komisije Juncker napovedal že v svojem govoru o stanju v uniji leta 2015. Gre za skupno zavezo voditeljev EU k varovanju in podpiranju 20 načel in pravic, zapisanih v stebru. Voditelji so decembra lani na Evropskem svetu opozorili predvsem na pomen postavljanja človeka na prvo mesto ter na konvergenco med državami članicami.
Med problematikami, ki so se jih govorci dotaknili, je bila tudi dvojna narava inkluzivne rasti preko odvisnosti prosperitete držav od gospodarske rasti ob poskusu vključevanja državljanov, tako ekonomskega kot političnega. Kot ena izmed konkretnih posledic, je bila izpostavljena prihodnost mladih, ki so dandanes prva generacija, ki v velikem deležu ne bo dosegla standarda svojih prednikov. Med potencialnimi ključnimi instrumenti za prihodnost socialnih modelov so bili navedeni izobraževanje, progresivna globalna obdavčitev kapitala, sheme solastništva, socialni programi proti neenakosti, spodbujanje novih oblik socialne organizacije, ki bo omogočala vzdržnostni razvoj, prihodnost dela in z njo skrajšanje delovnega časa.
Ob izzivih demografije in staranja prebivalstva se sočasno odpirajo potrebe po vseživljenjskem učenju, ob digitalizaciji, ustvarjanju novih delovnih mest ter potrebah po novih veščinah pa poglobljeno izobraževanje in usposabljanje, hkrati pa tudi ureditev mobilnosti delavcev, regulacija čezmejnega delovanja z uporabo digitalnih platform, poglobljena koordinacija sistemov socialne varnosti.
V evropski sliki obstajajo številni kontrasti, medtem ko vzhod ob visoki zaposlenosti ohranja nižji standard in nizke plače, zahod povečuje divergenco med bogatimi in revnimi, mnoge države pa se še vedno soočajo s posledicami finančne krize. Prav zato mora Evropska unija nadaljevati z iskanjem konvergenc, iskati in vzpostaviti razmerje med solidarnostjo in subsidiarnostjo ter biti pripravljena na prihajajoče krize. Temelj Evrope mora ostati na ljudeh. Slovenija mora pri tem biti v svojih ciljih jasna ter ostati v središču širših evropskih integracij in razmislekov o prihodnosti.
22. 12. 2017 | PR, ROSE
Slovenian obligors for public procurements are getting such exchange hub for eInvoices which will enable them to receive eInvoice in European standard, a requirement of the newly adopted Directive 2014/55/EU on eInvoicing.
The technical solution in the form of upgraded single entry and exit point is being implemented by the Public Payments Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for public procurement obligors, which are budget users. A brand new exchange hub is designed by ZZI d.o.o. for contracting authorities and contracting entities, which are not budget users, under the patronage of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia. Both solutions will be compatible, following the same concept of functioning and will thus be establishing a common system, taking into account interfaces with ERP providers who service both budget users as well as obligors who are not budget users. Both solutions will translate UN/CEFACT CII and UBL 2.1 syntax eInvoice into the new EN 16931 compliant Slovenian standard eSLOG 2.0 and will ensure visualisation of 2.0 eInvoice. In the transitional period, technical solutions will also generate conversions of eSLOG 2.0 eInvoice into eSLOG 1.6 eInvoice, which will ensure easier and smoother transition into novelties.
Informing stakeholders is among the key activities of the Action
In order to successfully implement the Directive 2014/55/EU in Slovenian public procurement market, the inclusion of the stakeholders and awareness raising is among the key priorities of the actors, involved in the ROSE Action. Workshops and lectures across Slovenia started in November 2017 and will be continued in January 2018. More details are available at www.roseslovenia.eu.
Solution development was presented on 21 December 2017 at 7th Steering Board meeting of the ROSE Action, a Connecting European Facility Action, co-financed by the European Union and implemented by the Public Payments Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, ZZI d.o.o., Mojdenar IT d.o.o. and Centre for European Perspective.
21. 12. 2017 | Montenegro - EU Accession, PR
In the framework of the CEP’s bilateral technical assistance project “Assistance to Montenegro in negotiations on accession to the EU 2017” experts from Slovene Securities Market Agency (ATVP) host their counterparts from Montenegrin Securities and Exchange Commission on a two day study visit.
The participants were welcomed by Miloš Čas, Director of ATVP, who presented the experience of the Agency in the process of adapting and implementing of the EU legislation in the field of financial services. Three experts from the Agency will present different EU directives that regulate the field of financial services to Montenegrin colleague. On Friday, they will visit the management company KD Skladi.
ATVP experts provide their counterparts consultations and exchange of Slovene experience in negotiating Chapter 9 – Financial services in the securities market.
The project is part of the CEP program activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the scope of international development cooperation.
Read Slovene article here.
14. 12. 2017 | Montenegro - EU Accession, Slovenian Development Assistance
In the framework of the CEP’s bilateral technical assistance project “Assistance to Montenegro in negotiations on accession to the EU 2017” experts from Slovene Securities Market Agency (ATVP) will on 21 and 22 December 2017 host their counterparts from Montenegrin Securities and Exchange Commission on a two day study visit.
ATVP experts will provide their counterparts consultations and exchange of Slovene experience in negotiating Chapter 9 – Financial services in the securities market.
The project is part of the CEP program activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the scope of international development cooperation.
Read this article in Slovene language.
12. 12. 2017 | Danube, PR
European Parliament recently published Report on the implementation of EU macro-regional strategies, where the institution strongly supports macro-regional integration and offers a number of elements and suggestions for concrete activities on the level of macro-regions in the future.
Macro-regional strategies have gained importance in recent years as a platform for transnational cooperation between Member States but also with third countries. They provide an integrated framework to address mutual challenges and exploit common potential. In the 2014-2020 programming period, MRS have been incorporated in the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) programmes.
Currently, four existing MRS (Baltic, Danube, Adriatic-Ionian and Alpine) are bringing together 19 Member States and 8 non-EU countries. Some Member States participate in more than one MRS, whereas Slovenia is the only country that participates in three macro-regions.
MRS are set within the boundaries of the “three no’s” principle: no new EU funds, no additional EU formal structures and no new EU legislation. Financial support does come in form of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) transnational cooperation programmes which are financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
As the Commission states, MRS are about more than just funding because they “bring citizens of different Member States together and improve their social and economic living conditions through trans-border cooperation.”
Centre for European Perspective as the coordinator of the EU Strategy for Danube Region’s priority area Institutional Capacity and Cooperation in the Danube Region (PA 10) aims to promote cooperation between the 14 countries (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Moldova and Ukraine) for enhancing sustainable development and competitiveness of this part of Europe and follows closely the developments in the field.
A full report of the European Parliament can be accessed here.
