SOLIDAR & SOLIDAR Foundation

Our Social Europe Conference titled “Civil society in the European Semester – road to a more democratic and social cycle” took place on 3rd December in the European Parliament.✊ On this occasion we presented the findings of our Social Rights Monitor 2024, SOLIDAR's annual flagship publication in the domain of social affairs that reflects the perspective of national CSOs on the state of implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and gives an overview of the progress towards a Just Transition, as well as of the state of civic space in the analysed countries. This analysis is built on the input of our members and their partners.🔎 The trends observed across Europe this year include: 🔸Marginalised groups including migrants and ethnic minorities still face obstacles to access fundamental rights, including education, and quality jobs. 🔸Adequate wages are a central issue in Europe as they are an essential tool to protect people from in-work poverty, especially during times of high inflation. More needs to be done for the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive to be ambitiously implemented at the national level.    🔸Insufficient and inadequate social housing solutions combined with an increase in rents and property prices are significantly jeopardising the right to adequate housing for all across Europe. 🔸Civic space is shrinking and the work of CSOs is made more and more complicated by lack of funding, administrative burdens, smear campaigns and inadequate or inexistent channels of civil dialogue. ✍️These observations led to a series of policy recommendations that we summarised in our SRM Booklet: https://lnkd.in/dTtCwdJC Don't miss out on them! 📢During the Conference, we discussed these findings with experts on the European Semester: Amandine Crespy, Barbara Kurkowiak, Javier Dor Orrit, Laura de Bonfils, Luis Cortez. Thanks to their insightful contributions, we explored ways to strengthen the involvement of CSOs in the Semester cycle, so that evidence that can inform socio-economic policies, like the SRM, can be better mirrored in it. 💭 Interesting ideas emerged from the exchange: 🔸The need to consider the European Parliament as an unexplored channel to involve CSOs in the European Semester better; 🔸Stricter requirements on the involvement of CSOs in the European Semester for Members States should be put forward to ensure homogeneity in the civil dialogue on the cycle and set ambitious standards; 🔸Social investment is vital to advance social rights, but the resources are limited, also due to the renewed austerity approach of the new EU economic governance. 🔸The participation of CSOs should also be a reality in other DGs than DG EMPL that play a role in the European Semester. Thank you to all those who contributed to these valuable discussions. SOLIDAR and its members will keep advocating for a more social and democratic European Semester, taking into consideration the good ideas shared!✊🤝

🌴The visit of the Palm Oil workers delegation to Brussels 🌍 ✈️From Dec 9-11, together with our partners: Friends of the Earth Europe, Solidar Suisse, Pro Natura, and HEKS/EPER (Swiss Church Aid) we hosted a delegation of workers, union leaders and activists from Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria and Liberia in Brussels. We’ve had insightful discussions with key stakeholders from the Commission, the Parliament and with representatives from Trade Unions and CSOs, advocating for stronger protection and enforcement mechanisms to improve workers' rights, enhance social protection, promote fair labour practices and stop deforestation and ecosystems destruction in the palm oil sector. There is still much work to be done, especially when it comes to migrant workers and indigenous communities. These groups are often the most vulnerable and their rights must be safeguarded alongside environmental protection measures. 🍃 🤝 The delegation brought together labour, land rights and environmental justice activists to create a vision of a transformative strategy towards a different kind of palm oil production – one which is both socially and ecologically just and sustainable. 🍃✊ #JustTransition #PalmOil

🌍✨ On December 3, 2024, SOLIDAR Foundation had the pleasure of organising “Democracy in Action: A Conference on Global Citizenship Education” at the European Parliament. 🚩Elisa Gambardella, SOLIDAR Foundation, opened the conference by welcoming all participants and introducing the programme, and speakers. This was followed by the opening speech of MEP Marcos Ros Sempere, S&D Group. 💬🗣️ Marcos stressed the importance of Global Citizenship Education (GCE) to both support democratic engagement and strengthen democracy in the European Union, especially given the current political climate. ✍️Presentation of Policy Paper: 📄Afterwards, SOLIDAR Foundation's new policy paper "Global Citizenship Education and Democratic Participation in Europe" was launched and Elizaveta Ebner, PhD Candidate, presented the main findings of the paper. 🔍Read it here: https://bit.ly/3CVDQuX The main recommendations of the publication in one page can be found here: https://bit.ly/3DldVNl 📊📈 📢Roundtable Discussion: For the roundtable, we invited experts from civil society organisations and the European Commission to discuss the topic of Global Citizenship Education as a catalyst for democratic participation. 🔹Alexandra Biris – Policy Officer, DG EAC, highlighted the 2023 Council Conclusions emphasising education's role in fostering EU values and democratic participation. While acknowledging the need for a global approach to citizenship education, Alexandra noted that education remains a Member State competence. However, the European Commission facilitates discussions, provides funding, and shares best practices on (Global) Citizenship Education. 🔹Liam Wegimont, Executive Director, GENE, mentioned the Dublin Declaration's efforts to bridge policy silos and promote collaboration between education ministries and foreign affairs policymakers in creating national strategies for GCE. Liam also expressed hope for formal education to adopt more emancipatory practices, similar to those found in non-formal GCE organisations, and noted the growing body of evidence on GCE's impact. 🔹Isabelle Palanchon, International Department, CEMEA France, provided an overview of CEMEA’s GCE activities, which focus on intercultural learning, geopolitical understanding, and international mobility. She emphasised the importance of linking local and global citizenship, using non-formal education methods and active pedagogies to foster critical thinking and emancipation. 📢Mikael Leyi, Secretary General of SOLIDAR & SOLIDAR Foundation, closed the event by highlighting the continuous need to fund GCE activities in the current political climate🔑 🙌 Thank you to all our experts for joining us and sharing their opinions and S&D Group for hosting us! Global Education Network Europe (GENE) Ceméa France Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament European Commission

As Member States’ plans to implement the #EUPactOnMigration are due tomorrow, SOLIDAR members have been pushing for the highest protection standards in national practices. 🔜 Their demands include: ⏱️Early detection of vulnerabilities carried out by trained personnel ✍️Free, independent, individualised legal counselling for all applicants at all stages 🚷Restricting applicants’ freedom of movement as an exception 👣Independent borders monitoring mechanism enshrined in law, with a broad mandate and sufficient funds 👀Read SOLIDAR members’ detailed demands to the German, Polish and Spanish governments: 🔗https://bit.ly/3DbfoG3 AWO Bundesverband e.V. Movimiento por la Paz - MPDL

🚨 Join the SOLIDAR team as our new Communications and Advocacy Officer in Brussels! We're looking for a passionate communicator to lead our Comms team, help amplify civil society voices and promote social justice in Europe and beyond. The ideal candidate will have: • Strong writing and communication skills • Key eye for campaigns • Fluency in English • Passion for social justice issues Apply by December 13th! All info here👀👇 https://lnkd.in/dqfTxRyA

🌍 The new #Commission is up and running! What does it mean for the future of #EU policy? Here’s everything you need to know ⬇️ 1️⃣🍀 #JustTransition: #Competitiveness should not mean social setback! 👍Pros: We’re happy to see Teresa Ribera champion a just transition in a holistic manner! 👎Cons: Competitiveness should not sideline #social justice, and the #CleanIndustrialDeal should also be social! 2️⃣👫#Social policy: We need a truly progressive social policy! 👍Pros: The policy proposals put forward by Roxana Minzatu are much needed.  👎Cons: Social progress is not achieved through a neoliberal lens! 3️⃣ 🤝#Migration policy: Is the bar too low? 👍Pros: Magnus Brunner mentioned legal pathways and did not fall for the far-right narrative. 👎Cons: He is a hardliner on migration policy and will likely put legislation on returns. 4️⃣ 💭  #CivilDialogue: A step forward for Michael McGrath? 👍Pros: The European Democracy Shield and the Civil Society Platform are much welcome initiatives. 👎 Cons: This means protecting and funding civil society working on #education! 5️⃣ 🌍International cooperation & #development should be about collaboration, not competition!  👍Pros: Kaja Kallas and Jozef Sikela committed to advance #HumanRights and achieve the #SDGs. 👍Cons: Strike a balance between the EU's #economic interests and our partners' development! Mikael Leyi Carlos Roldán Mejías (He/Him) Barbara Caracciolo Lavinia Mazzei Alba Gonzalez Hilmi Tekoglu Elisa Gambardella Alexandra Matthys Lea Becher Julie Martinaud Martina Corti Andrea Casamenti Giorgia Gusciglio Ludovico Caminati Engström Dr Susanne Drake ABF Arbetarnas Bildningsförbund (Workers' Educational Association in Sweden) Arci - Associazione Ricreativa e Culturale Italiana  ARCS Culture Solidali  Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz (ACPP)   Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Österreichs  Auser Associazione per l'invecchiamento attivo   AWO Bundesverband e.V.   AWO International e.V.  BFI OÖ Casa do Brasil de Lisboa Community Development Institute - Macedonia Garnier Valerie

👏What a huge success! Last night we received the 🌹🏆Silver Rose Award for just transition from SOLIDAR & SOLIDAR Foundation in Brussels. 🎉To celebrate this tremendous achievement, we want to highlight the #ecofeminist faces of WECF! 📽️ Let's get to know some of them in this video. We hold solidarity with WECF Georgia as Georgian activists face police violence for demonstrating against far-right backlashes. #SilverRoseAwards2024 #JustTransition #FeministFutures FEPS Europe European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Young European Socialists Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament Party of European Socialists (PES) WECF France WECF Georgia

🚀 Exciting News! 🌍✨ We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new policy paper on "Global Citizenship Education and democratic participation in Europe" 📚🤝 This paper dives into the vital role of Global Citizenship Education in boosting youth engagement and trust in democratic institutions. 🗳️💪 In includes a literature review on the impact of citizenship education on democratic participation, an overview of EU policies on GCE, and give concrete policy recommendations! Join us in promoting active citizenship and shaping a brighter future for Europe! 💙 #GCE #SOLIDARDays 👉 Read the full paper here: https://bit.ly/3CVDQuX or🔎 explore our interactive policy pill: https://bit.ly/4g8RfyJ

With the 2024 SOLIDAR Legacy Prize for Social Justice we honour the late Glenys Kinnock✊ One year ago, the Progressive family lost an important and inspiring figure, Glenys Kinnock. Given the significance of Glenys for the SOLIDAR family and the progressive movement, we decided to introduce an award in her memory to remember this immense political figure together. 🕊️ Glenys was an inspiring and exceptional individual who not only spent her life campaigning to make the world a better place but was also the founder of the Silver Rose Awards. Thus, this year, in her memory, we are introducing one extra award to honour Glenys, an inspiring and exceptional individual who helped shape SOLIDAR and who dedicated her life to social justice and human rights.☮️ Glenys' family will be awarded the SOLIDAR Legacy Prize for Social Justice during the Silver Rose Awards Ceremony this upcoming Wednesday! Read more about Glenys' lasting legacy 👇 🔗https://bit.ly/4fVbUpw Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament Party of European Socialists (PES) CES - ETUC FEPS Europe Brussels Labour Young European Socialists

Last day to register! 🚨 Join us to discuss how a Global Green Deal would pave the away for a truly just transition!