The ABC is moving. From Europarl this morning:

You are also on our website, in the partners list http://www.europarltv.europa.eu/en/about-europarltv/our-partners/websites.aspx

At the Parliament website this morning:

Your submission can now be accessed on the inquiry page for In-work progression in Universal Credit and the pdf is available at this link: http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/work-and-pensions-committee/universal-credit-inwork-progression/written/28169.pdf

Did you know the Parliament offers traineeships to young people? Find out with Adela and Freddie how to apply and what kind of an experience could be in store for you too. Watch the video below.

Traineeships for university graduates are called a Robert Schuman Traineeship

Traineeships for university graduates are intended to enable trainees to build on the knowledge they acquired during their studies and to familiarise themselves with the activities of the European Union and, in particular, the European Parliament.

Three types of traineeships are available:

• the general option, open to any candidate who meets the criteria.
• the journalism option: candidates must provide proof of professional experience, as evidenced either by works published, or by membership of an association of journalists in an EU Member State, or by a qualification in journalism recognized in the EU Member States or in the applicant countries.
• the Sakharov Prize option: This traineeship programme aims to enhance trainees' knowledge of the European Parliament's human rights work and international human rights standards. It is aimed at candidates with a particular interest in human rights.

Applicants for a traineeship for university graduates must:

• be nationals of an EU Member State or an applicant country, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 5(2) of the Internal Rules;
• be aged 18 or over on their traineeship starting date;
• have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union;
• not have been awarded any other traineeship or have been in paid employment for more than four consecutive weeks the cost of which was charged to the European Union budget.

These traineeships are awarded for a period of five months which cannot be extended.

Traineeship dates and deadlines for receipt of applications:

• Application period: 15 August – 15 October (midnight)
  Traineeship period: 1 March – 31 July
• Application period: 15 March – 15 May (midnight)
  Traineeship period: 1 October – 28/29 February

Every year, 25 000 people apply for a traineeship at Parliament and 600 of them are selected.

To apply for the traineeship, you must meet the conditions and complete the online application form.

Before applying

• We advise you to read carefully the ‘Internal Rules governing traineeships and study visits in the Secretariat of the European Parliament’ and the Frequently Asked Questions before filling in the application form.
• You have 30 minutes to complete each page of the form. Please note that if you leave your application form inactive for 30 minutes, the data you have entered will be lost.
• We advise you not to wait until the last day to apply, as a large number of last-minute applications could overload the system.
• Candidates with a disability must take careful note of the conditions which apply to them.
• To ensure that you apply to those directorates-general that best suit your profile, you should read the descriptions of their activities by clicking on the information button on the last page of the application form or by visiting the website of the European Parliament Secretariat.
• The application cannot be modified online. It must be completed and sent in one step. After filling in your application, please make sure that it is correct and complete before submitting it.
• You may send only one application for one traineeship option. If you submit multiple applications for one option we will keep only the most recent one.

• Please note that any incomplete applications will automatically be rejected.
• Once you have confirmed/sent your online application, you will automatically receive a confirmation message sent to your email address. The message contains a confirmation number, which you should quote in all future correspondence concerning the traineeship, and the summary of your application in pdf format, a paper version of which will be requested if we offer you a traineeship.

See:

• Internal Rules governing traineeships and study visits
• Online application form for a traineeship for university graduates
• FAQs
• European Parliament Secretariat
• Code of Good Practice for the Employment of People with Disabilities
• Practical information - Brussels
• Practical information - Luxembourg
• Practical information - Strasbourg

Sorry Severe network outage

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 14:57 We experienced a large distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack against our ISPs network. This is resulted in loss of connectivity to a wide range of  services. 

The patient has now fully recovered and is doing well. 

The Schengen Area is the area comprising 26 European countries that have abolished passport and any other type of border control at their common borders, also referred to as internal borders. It mostly functions as a single country for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy.

The Migration Crisis has made this term familiar to more people but what exactly is: The Schengen Area and when and why was it created?

This video explains. 

DWP Debate:

Work and Pensions Committee

Wednesday 10 February 2016 Meeting starts at 9.30am

A workplace pension is a way of saving for your retirement that’s arranged by your employer.

Some workplace pensions are called ‘occupational’, ‘works’, ‘company’ or ‘work-based’ pensions.

According to the .gov website a new law means that every employer must automatically enrol workers into a workplace pension scheme if they:

• are aged between 22 and State Pension age
• earn more than £10,000 a year
• work in the UK

This is called ‘automatic enrolment’. Wednesdays debate subject is: Pensions automatic enrolment

• Sara Graff, Taxing nannies,
• Katharine Swire, and Aileen Broomfield

Worker exploitation is not an isolated or marginal phenomenon. But despite its pervasiveness in everyday life, severe labour exploitation and its adverse effects on third-country nationals and EU citizens – as workers, but also as consumers – have to date not received much attention from researchers.

Fundamental rights set out minimum standards to ensure that a person is treated with dignity. Whether this is the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of your age, disability or ethnic background, the right to the protection of your personal data, or the right to get access to justice, these rights should all be promoted and protected.

Through the collection and analysis of data in the EU, the FRA assists EU institutions and EU Member States in understanding and tackling challenges to safeguard the fundamental rights of everyone in the EU. Working in partnership with the EU institutions, its Member States and other organisations at the international, European and national levels, the FRA plays an important role in helping to make fundamental rights a reality for everyone living in the EU.

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). FRA was established in 2007 as an EU Agency with the specific task of providing independent, evidence-based advice on fundamental rights. If you feel that you are being exploited and abused, this organisation is a good place to learn more. 

Please Download the booklet below: 

The ABC is in discussions with the European Parliament, Directorate-General for Communication, Directorate for Media about hosting video and live coverage of EU debates and EU policy updates.

This video is an interesting one if you are thinking about your pension and you are someone who has had multiple employers. Although the state pension in the UK has improved recently in cash terms, in the longer term (those retiring from 2040) the state pension will shrink and workplace pensions will become even more significant.

The ABC feel a single European retirement age is a great idea. The recent treatment of women of a certain age in regards to their retirement [pensionable age] being shifted without fair warning, has highlighted the need for a better ‘contract’ between workers and the state. The argument that the government has been involved miss-selling pensions is a valid one. There needs to be better protection for all those who pay National Insurance and who should know what exactly they are paying for.

The video below explains the position if you have changed jobs and have various pension pots with different employers. We hope to be bringing European workers much more valuable insights and information like this as we grow into the future. 'Watch this space' as the saying goes. 

The Welfare State and the fight against inequality The European Social Model as an element of European identity. With special reference to the German case By Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) on 05/02/16 

This policy brief inspired the speech of FEPS Secretary general, Ernst Stetter at the conference: THE WELFARE STATE AND THE FIGHT AGAINST INEQUALITY

Following the latest snub to the Welfare Reform Committee from a DWP Minister, the 10th since 2010, the SNP has called on the Prime Minister to deliver on the respect agenda he promised in 2010 and require his Ministers to appear before Scottish Parliament Committees. 

The Scottish Welfare Reform Committee was established on 25 January 2012. 

The Committee's role is to monitor the implementation of the UK Welfare Reform Act 2012 and other social security legislation as it affects provision in Scotland and to consider relevant Scottish legislation and other consequential arrangements.

Priti Patel, the Minister responsible for employability and the devolution of social security powers, last week refused to attend a public meeting of the Welfare Reform Committee. This is the second time that Ms Patel has refused to meet the Committee in public – on the first occasion she declined on behalf of Iain Duncan Smith. 

This latest snub comes as the Chief Executive of SCVO has said that the UK government’s planned 80 per cent cut to employability schemes due to be devolved by the Scotland Bill “fatally undermines the ability of Scotland to do things differently”. 

Commenting, SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: “It’s no wonder she’s hiding from scrutiny – her government have cut 80 per cent of the funding for the back-to-work schemes being devolved, which the third sector has said ‘fatally undermines’ Scotland’s ability to do something different.

Scottish Welfare Reform Committee being snubbed by Priti Patel  say the SNP

More Than 30,000 Disabled People Could Lose Mobility Vehicles in Scotland

EILIDH WHITEFORD: IDS Must think again about welfare threshold

The Scottish National Party is today highlighting that more than 30,000 disabled people across Scotland could lose their mobility vehicles due to cuts to disability welfare payments.

Nearly 14,000 disabled people have already had their specialist cars taken away from them after being reassessed as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continues its roll out of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

The Motability Scheme allows disabled people to lease a new car, scooter or powered vehicle - and helps towards the cost of adaptations - this provides a level of independence for disabled people who otherwise would not be able to get to work.

According to Motability's latest annual report, 70,000 people in Scotland use the service and if the current rate of reassessment decisions continues then up to 31,500 people would lose their mobility vehicles.

Commenting, Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP, SNP spokesperson for Social Justice and Welfare said:

"I am extremely concerned that taking away a disabled person's means of transport will make it impossible for them to travel to and from work - which flies in the face of the Tory government's aim of getting more people in to work. 

"Personal Independence Payments should mean exactly that: a level of independence for disabled people and I urge Iain Duncan Smith to urgently think again about the threshold for the Motability scheme for PIP.

"Almost 14,000 disabled people have already had their specialist cars taken away from them following reassessment and if the current rate continues it would mean that 31,500 people in Scotland would no longer be able to access this vital scheme.  This would leave those in rural areas, where public transport isn't always accessible or very regular, without any options whatsoever.

"And while there is an appeals process, it fails to protect disabled people.  Apart from an appeals process putting undue stress on a disabled person, the latest figures show that 60% of decisions to remove mobility allowance were later overturned on appeal which suggests that the system just isn't working."