GRTU writes to Ministry regarding the implementation of key EU Education and Employment policies

GRTU has this week written to the Hon Dolores Cristina Minister for Education, Employment and the Family enquiring about Government's implementation of the:

• Framework Agreement on Inclusive Labour Markets signed by EU Social Partners
• The Bruges Communiqué on enhanced European Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training

This following the request by GRTU's EU level Social Partner representative, UEAPME, The European Association of Craft Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. GRTU has on its own account carried out the implementation of a number of policies falling within the scope of these two items. The EU however is requesting an annual report which provides a comprehensive explanation of not only GRTU's and the other social partners` actions but also of Government.

The Framework Agreement signed by the Social Partners abides Government in Member States and the Social Partners to implement on a 3 year period policies in line with the agreement. Implementation of this framework agreement will contribute to the Commission's objective of achieving inclusive growth as part of a renewed Europe 2020 strategy. The main aim of the Framework Agreement is to:

• Consider the issues of access, return, retention and development with a view to achieving the full integration of individuals in the labour market;
• Increase the awareness, understanding and knowledge of employers, workers and their representatives of the benefits of inclusive labour markets;
• Provide workers, employers and their representatives at all levels with an action-oriented framework to identify obstacles to inclusive labour markets and solutions to overcome them.

While on the Framework Agreement GRTU is awaiting for a meeting from the Ministry in order to exchange knowledge and form a national report, on the Bruges Communiqué GRTU is simply awaiting for information from Government.

The Copenhagen Declaration of 29-30 November 2002 launched the European strategy for enhanced cooperation in Vocational Education and Training (VET), commonly referred to as the "Copenhagen process".  Today in 2010 on the basis of our 8 years of European cooperation, we have defined the long-term strategic objectives for the next decade (2011-2020).