'EU relationships with its southern neighbourhood is based on the two most powerful engines: geography and history. #Euromed has great potential, but faces also massive challenges in terms of #climate and #demography'
'How do we promote cooperation between EU and countries of southern #Mediterranean, ensuring respect for #democracy, human and Workers' rights? We see from experience in some situations we are not even allowed to talk about human rights'
'Since the spring the EU has renewed its strategic cooperation in the Mediterranean area. This programme is essential for the economic recovery in the region, and should be closely tied to environmental and social objectives'
'I want to refer to the value of civil society and the need to defend human rights and #decentwork. Moreover, since we talk about women empowerment it is essential to remember that the digital divide in the Mediterranean area has very much a female face'
'Every year should be the year of youth. Their figures double the normal unemployment in Europe, and in some member states the situation is worse. And then they often lack proper working conditions, harming their living conditions'
'#Traineeships are great as a transition to the labour market. But multiplication of traineeships are not a substitute for proper employment. And traineeships are a learning opportunity, not a tool for cheap labour'
'Many young people are working in the #GigEconomy. It might be a good way to get a job but in many cases especially on #platforms, they have no social protection, they are underpaid. They must have proper and decent working conditions and pay'
The general movement of the gender equality in the labour market is positive but it is moving slowly.
The speed of closing the gender gap must be much higher than what we have seen in recent years. Ivailo Kalfin @eurofound on #GenderEquality#EESCPlenary
This year, the amount of investment going to female-led startups has gone down from 3% a few years ago to 1% last year.
Diversity outperforms every single time and yet we are not backing diversity. Kinga Stanislawska #EESCPlenary#GenderEquality
Equal pay, childcare, maternity leave and flexibility at work can help women move up the ladder.
It's not a quick fix. Our efforts should be coordinated. We need to monitor policy and we need effective measurement. Xenia Kazoli #EESCPlenary#GenderEquality