IFSW EUROPEAN REGION - DELEGATES MEETING - 26-28 MAY
2006 –
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Report from the IFSW Europe Permanent Committee on EU Issues
This report reflects the activities set out in
IFSW Work Programme 2005-7 and Having
reported the past activities the reports also present issues concerning the future work of the Permanent
Committee.
8.1 Services of General Interest
To discuss a
report on the proposed EU Directive, developments and future actions
|
Activities |
Objective/ Goal |
Task |
DEVELOPMENTS / ACTIONS |
FUTURE ACTIONS |
|
(as presented in
the IFSW Work Programme 2005-7) |
||||
|
Communication with European Union structures |
Strengthened profile and influence of IFSW and social work within
European institutions |
· Monitor the work of the EU in approved priority areas · Consider any emerging issues to be taken up urgently · Notify member organisations of relevant issues · Establish a network of national contact persons · Improve joint working with partner organisations |
Since early 2004 we have followed the
development of a proposed EU Directive on ‘Service of General Interest’, as
also reported to the DM in 2004 and 2005. The focus has since moved from this
Directive towards the so-called Services Directive. Shortly the issue for
IFSW is whether ‘social work’ shall be regulated as a market-based activity, or if there need special regulations to secure
the users of social work. The work on the Services Directive has been
involved many partners, lobbyists and Governments, as the Directive concerns
all services, not only social work. The Committee has during the past year
informed members on this development, through ESW and direct information, and
we have also invited members to contact local representatives to lobby on the
Directive. The IFSW influence on the process around
the Directive has been channelled through partner organisations –
specifically the Social Platform and EPSU. The present status on the EU process on the Directive is that the
Council is reconsidering the content and wording of the Directive following a
majority vote in Parliament saying to exclude social services among other
services from the Directive. How it ends is still open. |
Monitor and communicate on the continuing
process on the Services Directive, including the reopened discussion on the
“sub” Directive on Services of General Interest. This shall happen by cooperation with partner organisations, also
bringing in relevant info to the IFSW member organisations through ESW and
e-mails |
8.2 Mutual recognition of qualifications
To
discuss reports on developments and future actions
|
Activities |
Objective/Goal |
Task |
DEVELOPMENTS / ACTIONS |
FUTURE ACTIONS |
||
|
(as presented in
the IFSW Work Programme 2005-7) |
||||||
|
Promotion of training and qualifications policies set out in the
Policy Platform |
Influence the development of policy within the EU framework so
that EU and national decisions are in line with IFSW definitions and
standards |
·
Develop strategic plan - goals and tasks ·
Monitor EU consultation
processes ·
Work with groups with similar
objectives ·
Update information on
situation in member countries |
‘Mutual recognition of certificates’ and
‘regulatory initiatives, national and EU-based’ has had our priority over the
past years. The IFSW strategy is to secure high
professional standards within social work, to have the profession recognised
at EU level, and to improve the cross country mobility for social workers.
The latter part must on the other hand not undermine a high professional
standard. A reform of a number of EU Directives on
mutual recognition of certificates were finalised in 2005, and a new
Directive concerning regulated professions has been passed. As Social work is
not a regulated profession in all EU countries the Directive does not
immediately influence all member organisations. But the Directive may have a
way for us to proceed to include all member countries, by establishing a
‘Professional Platform’ (see future actions). For parts of the process around this
Directive we have worked with AIEJI and EASSW, as we have consulted
EUROCADRES. Although cooperation with these partners can be complicated as we
for some parts have competitive interests. Info for members was distributed on this issue in the past period.
To be updated on the situation concerning professional regulatory schemes in
member countries we found some help in the IFSW global survey from 2004 on
‘registration of social work’, but beyond this we have not succeeded to make
up the necessary documentations. We will have to follow up on this (see
future actions). |
Investigate the perspectives in
establishing an IFSW based Professional Platform within the frames of the
Directive on Mutual Recognition. (In close cooperation with some of the
member-organisations who are directly affected by the Directive.) Follow up on the Global Survey to collect and update the necessary
information from all European member countries, eventually through an IFSW
Project-based activity. |
||
|
Training and Qualifications -Mutual Recognition |
Member organisations are well briefed on
European developments Communication between member
organisations on qualifications policy Co-ordinated networking, lobbying and campaigning when appropriate |
·
Collect and disseminate
information ·
Identify in which countries
social work is a regulated profession ·
Investigate the possibility
to establish a professional platform within the provisions of the Directive ·
Work with GSCC [ ·
Continue work with EASSW and
other partners in ENQASP as observers ·
Identify all regulatory
bodies in |
Information disseminated in line with the
presentation above. Information taken from the IFSW global
survey Work in progress (see future actions) Planning for conference on regulation
involving national regulatory bodies, starting through contacts in |
Continue the planning of the conference
on regulations, and if possible relate the conference closely to the
activities above. |
||
8.3 The
Social Platform (The platform of European Social NGO's)
To
receive a report on the membership application and to discuss reports on
developments and future actions
|
Activities |
Objective/Goal |
Task |
DEVELOPMENTS / ACTIONS |
FUTURE ACTIONS |
|
(as presented in
the IFSW Work Programme 2005-7) |
||||
|
Co-operation with other organisations relevant to social work |
Increased co-operation between and strengthened influence of
social work organisations in |
· Co-operate with Social Platform |
In March 2006 our application as observer member of Social Platform were accepted by their General Assembly. We have asked for membership as our DM in 2004 and 2005 found this umbrella body interesting for further cooperation. It is a Platform of European Social NGOs, an The General
Assembly did, however, invite us to discuss future collaboration, resulting
in the application for observer membership. |
Meet with the Social Platform, to
investigate the future ways of collaboration with Social Platform on social
issues, following our new membership status. Join Social Platform activities in the coming period, as they fit
our priorities. |
8.4 Other
EU-related issues
To discuss
reports on developments and future actions
|
Activities |
Objective/ Goal |
Task |
DEVELOPMENTS / ACTIONS |
FUTURE ACTIONS |
|
(as presented in the IFSW Work Programme 2005-7) |
||||
|
Communication with European Union structures |
Strengthened profile and influence of IFSW and social work within
European institutions |
· Monitor the work of the EU in approved priority areas · Consider any emerging issues to be taken up urgently · Notify member organisations of relevant issues · Establish a network of national contact persons · Improve joint working with partner organisations |
We have monitored the policy statements
from the Irish and the British and Austrian presidency of EU, by help of
material from Social Platform and EPSU. By monitoring these statements we got
an overview of the objectives for the presidencies, of which some were
communicated to IFSW Europe members. We have monitored the policy statement of
Commission President Barroso, and together with
other social NGOs and activists we did support a call on political leaders to
reject the Barroso approach to the Lisbon Strategy
and reaffirm the European model of society. Borroso
attempted to sideline social cohesion objectives which the EU itself adopted
only five years ago. This joint action did result in a revision of the Barroso approach following the meeting for head of
states. We have been doing some thinking on preparing a work on a
'European Law on Social Work', with reference to 'social work practice
standards' and the processes on this issue in some of national member
organisations (among other countries |
Follow actual IFSW relevant issues,
within the priorities of the Permanent Committee and the Executive Committee. Update IFSW Europe members on the actual
developments. Formally establish a network of national contact persons for EU
related issues. |
|
Co-operation with other organisations relevant to social work |
Increased co-operation between and strengthened influence of
social work organisations in |
· Develop a systematic map of organisations relevant to social work
in |
|
Monitor how ENSA can frame cooperation
also on EU issues. Continue the contacts to EPSU on issues
where we have a common interest |
8.5 IFSW
European Union priorities
To
discuss reports on developments and future actions
|
The Permanent Committee has for the past period (7-8 month)
consisted of three persons, The Permanent Committee has not hardly
been working as a group, as timing has not made it possible to meet. We
communicate by e-mail and work in close cooperation with the Executive
Committee on the issues presented above. The
future actions can include four types of activities: (1) outline information for member
organisations on EU-issues (2) networking/cooperation with
similar organisation on the EU-scene (3) lobbying towards the
EU-institutions/offices (4) Apply for and run EU-financed
projects The
proposed issues to bring into such actions is listed as Future Actions in the column above, to the right. But
the Permanent Committee must in cooperation with the Executive Committee
prioritise the activities, following the discussions at the Delegate Meeting
in Sofia. This can include a decision on - a
short term work plan, from now and until the delegate meeting early spring
2007, and - and
a work plan for the longer term, beyond 2007. For
the short term work plan, it should reflect any urgent issues, which
represent action visible and useful right away for the member organisations,
and eventually some activities, which first need some investigation and
strategic planning before action. For the long term work plan, it may be
more ambitious, it may include new issues. But still we need to balance our objectives
and goals to our present resources. |
Observations
We
need to observe
1) the
balance between a practical approach and a more theoretical approach towards
the listed issues, and the ways to approach them
2) the
inclusion of new member organisations, the differentiation among the national
organisations – in size, resources and objectives
3) that
a number of issues, discussed and agreed upon in the EU system, does also concern
and affect non EU-member countries
4) that
a number of issues are also discussed in the Council of Europe, for which
reason we need a close relation to the IFSW representatives to the Council of
Europe. Some times you may even see a competition between the two European
bodies.
We
hereby invite the Delegate Meeting to discuss this report
[Chair of the IFSW Europe EU
Permanent Committee]
e-mail:
np@dsh-o.dk
phone: +45 23335294.
May 10, 2006
Background information:
The IFSW European region approved a new
statute/constitution at the Delegate Meeting in
Term
of office
The term of office of Permanent Committee
members is two year, the latest appointment happened in 2005.
The
functions and responsibilities of the Permanent Committee and its members
The Permanent Committee is
(according to the new statute Art. 16) responsible for initiating, participating
in and following up on EU-projects. The Permanent Committee acts as advisory
board to the Executive Committee on EU-related matters and will consult the
Executive Committee on all projects. The Executive Committee delegates power to
the Permanent Committee to take care of matters concerning the European Union.
As an example the
Permanent Committee can be the primary responsible for implementing those parts
of the IFSW Europe Action Plan which are relevant to the European Union.
Members of the Permanent Committee will have responsibility for sections of the
work plan and for taking forward areas of work agreed within the Executive.
The Region has no paid
staff, therefore the Permanent Committee are expected to work also outside
(before and after) Committee meetings.
The frequency of
meetings of the Permanent Committee has not been finalised, but it may be in
the area of one or two meetings per year. IFSW Europe has a very modest travel
budget for meetings of the Committee and meetings with EU officials and other
significant people. Most work will be done by e-mail and phone.
Financial
assistance for Permanent EU Committee Members
There is limited financial assistance for
Permanent Committee Members. Expenses must be approved in advance and may include
the cost of essential travel and accommodation in relation to meetings, such as
airfares, trains, buses and hotel. There
are no funds to support office costs, but essential phone and fax calls can be
paid. Receipts are required for all
claims. (Please refer to the Guidelines
for representatives attending meetings on behalf of IFSW