Invitation

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Brussels, 13 September 2005
MHA/JB/hc

-  To the Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian Members of the ETUC Youth Committee
-  For information to the ETUC Youth Committee
-  For information to the ETUC Member Organisations

Young trade unionists in @ction in the enlarged European Union
Invitation to a seminar

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to inform you that the first seminar organised within the framework of the new project entitled "Young trade unionists in @ction in the enlarged European Union" to be held in Vilnius on 7-8 October 2005.

Work will focus on two main objectives:

I) Training (for participants) on:

-  EU institutions (presentation of the different institutions, how they work, their powers, composition, administrative structure and so forth);
-  the Constitution and acquis communautaire;
-  the European dimension to trade unionism with specific emphasis on social dialogue.

The impact of enlargement in each of these areas will be highlighted. What does being part of the EU mean in terms of institutions, legislation and trade unionism?

II) Information (both received by and then disseminated by the participants), covering the following in particular:

-  European trade unionism as part of European citizenship and identity;
-  the role for young people in this movement. What is their place? What action should be taken? How should we communicate with young people who are affiliated to unions and those who are not members?

This initiative will give young trade unionists in the new Member States an opportunity to discuss their feelings following enlargement and to compare these views. Any questions they raise about career mobility can also be addressed, for example. Relevant information will be presented in different forms, namely by producing awareness-raising and information material and setting up a website.

Two other seminars will then be organised for the other six countries.

Participation in the seminars is planned as follows:

Lithuania Seminar 7-8 October 2005
Lithuania (4 people)
Latvia (4 people)
Estonia (4 people)
Poland (6 people)
Total: 18 participants

The working languages will be English and French.

A closing seminar will be held in Brussels in June 2006 to evaluate the implementation of the action plans drawn up in the different countries after the seminars. One representative from each new Member State will attend each seminar to present their action plan and give an update on its implementation. This final seminar will also give the participants an opportunity to meet representatives from the other seminars and exchange views, making for a richer experience. Visits to some EU institutions (the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee, the European Commission, etc.) are also planned.

The seven-member ETUC Youth Bureau will also attend the final seminar as observers, to encourage representatives from the ’old’ Member States to open up to representatives from the ’new’ countries. In the same spirit, representatives from the following EU candidate countries will also be invited: Bulgaria, Turkey, Croatia and Romania (two participants from each). Time will also be scheduled for an exchange of views. Please find enclosed the agenda and a registration form. Please return this form to Hélène Cipriano - hcipriano@etuc.org - before Friday 16th September 2005 at the latest.

Practical details of the stay and regarding accommodation will be sent directly to the participants. The choice of participants will ensure equal representation of men and women and of the member organisations of the respective country.

Best regards

Juliane Bir
ETUC Youth