KAGIDER joined the High-level Economic Dialogue Meeting between Turkey and the EU in Brussels.

The second EU-Turkey High-level Economic Dialogue meeting took place on December 8^th, 2017 in Brussels.  This High-level Economic Dialogue meeting, while acting as a follow-up to the political conversations that started between the EU and Turkey on November 29, 2015, also provides a platform from which Turkey can benefit through the EU membership process.  The meeting aims to strengthen the economic bonds between the business and the economic world by bringing together important names from both sectors.  
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The European Commission Invests € 30 Billion In New Solutions For Societal Challenges and Breakthrough Innovation

The European Commission announced how it will spend €30 billion of the EU research and innovation funding program Horizon 2020 during 2018-2020, including €2.7 billion to kick-start a European Innovation Council.
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EU-Funded Affordable Homa Based Child Care Services Help Mothers Return to Work

The EU-funded project to support women employment through home based child care subsidies was concluded with a closing conference held in Ankara.  Overall the program has improved the lives of 15,232 domestic child carers, 11,327 working mothers, and their children.
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Over 510 University Students and 120 Entrepreneurs Have Benefitted from the EU Funded Entrepreneurship Project

The closing ceremony of the EU funded project that improves the Ankara entrepreneurial eco-system took place on 16 October 2017.  Improving the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ankara to increase youth employment was the aim of a successfully concluded EU-funded project worth €2,4 million.
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Dare to Dream Girls! EU marks International Day of the Girl Child

Since 2012, 11 October has been observed as the International Day of the Girlfollowing a United Nations General Assembly resolution.  The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. 
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Erasmus+ in 2016: Another Record Year

The 2016 Erasmus+ report confirms the key role played by the program in building a more resilient Europe united around common European values.

With a 7.5% increase in the Erasmus+ budget compared to the previous year, the EU invested a record €2.27 billion support 725,000 Europeans with mobility to study, train, teach, work or volunteer abroad.  This brings the total to more than 2 million participants since 2014.  In 2016, 21,000 projects received funding involving 79,000 education, training and youth organizations – 15% more projects than in 2015. 
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Women in management: Commission moves closer to its target of at least 40%

The European Commission is steadily moving towards meeting the target set by President Jean-Claude Juncker of ensuring that, by the end of the current mandate, at least 40% of its middle and senior managers are women.  According to the latest data, female managers at all levels have reached a total of 36% on 1 November 2017, up from 30% at the beginning of the mandate.
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European Semester 2018: The Autumn Package Explained
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20-21 November 2017: 'Women's Rights in Turbulent Times' - 2017 Commission Colloquium on Fundamental Rights

On 20-21 November 2017, with the attendance of the KAGIDER committee, the European Commission hosted its Annual Colloquium on Fundamental Rights in Brussels.  This year's theme was 'Women's Rights in Turbulent Times'.  The recent media attention on harassment in particular, and women's rights in general, has highlighted that there are still many challenges to achieving gender equality in our societies, making this year's Colloquium particularly topical. Women are still underrepresented in decision-making positions, both in politics and the business world; women still earn 16% less than men on average across the EU; and violence against women is still widespread.
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Equal Pay Day

Today, the average hourly pay of women in Europe is 16.3% lower than that of men. European Equal Pay Day, which falls on 3 November this year, marks the moment when women effectively stop getting paid compared to their male colleagues, with almost two months of the year remaining.
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At home, at work, at school…  New digital publication presenting the life of women and men in Europe

Our lives are filled with different milestones, such as starting school, leaving the parental home and starting work, getting married, having children, retiring… When it comes to education, employment, careers and earnings, but also childcare, health and nutrition habits, or cultural, sports and internet habits, there are large differences between women and men but also between EU Member States.
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The Women of Europe Awards: The Winners

On November 29^th, 2017, the European Women’s Lobby collaborated with European Movement International to host the second Women of Europe Awards. These awards were organized by the European Movement International and the European Women’s Lobby, building upon the national awards of several National Councils of the European Movement.
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How Can Gender Equality be a Key to Fair Jobs?

The link for the Speech of EWL Vice President Elvy Svennerstål at the Ministerial Conference on How Gender Equality can contribute to Fair Jobs and Growth, 8 November could be found below.
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Work-Life-Balance Directive: update end 2017

In April 2017, the European Commission launched its proposal for a Directive on family related leave covering parental leave, paternity leave, carer’s leave and the right to request flexible working arrangements on return to work for reasons related to care responsibilities. The Directive, once adopted, will replace the existing EU Directive on Parental Leave negotiated and adopted by the Social Partners in 2010. The WLB Directive will be part of the co-decision procedure which means that both the European Parliament and the European Council will negotiate to reach a final text.
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Open Letter to Commissioner Věra Jourová': WEP calls for a real EU Strategy for Women Entrepreneurs

Promoting women entrepreneurship not only tackles issues of gender inequality; it also acts as a driver for change, for women’s lives and for the economy.  Notwithstanding the growing evidence that investing in women’s economic empowerment spurs growth, women are still less likely to become entrepreneurs, in pars due to cultural and societal barriers.
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The EU funded “TURKEY IN HORIZON 2020” Project Stimulated Research and Development in Turkey; It Brought Researcher and Entrepreneurs From the EU and Turkey Together

Turkey in Horizon 2020 project with a budget of €2,75M, created an excellent opportunity to increase the participation of its SMEs, foster innovation and bring together researchers and entrepreneurs from the European Union and Turkey. The EU funded project offered workshops & training, consultancy services, legal and financial support for Horizon 2020 proposals through a helpdesk, evaluation services plus collaboration and communication tools for networking with the information multipliers.
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Stop Violence Against Women: Statement by the European Commission on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

"On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we say once again, violence must stop now.”
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“To eliminate this gender-based violence once and for all, we need to improve education and legislation and change social norms. We have dedicated 2017 to European action to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, both in the public and private spheres. Lawyers, doctors, teachers and police, among others, are being trained to support victims and to prevent gender-based violence, thanks to EU financial support to NGOs.”
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EU and Turkey Get One Step Closer: Transport Information Management Systems Activated

The European Union supported Turkey in the development of transport information management systems in line with EU standards.
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EU Funding Supports 15,000 Women to Grow Their Business and Create New Jobs

Thousands of enterprises led by women have grown their business and created new jobs in the past four years through a €38 million EU-funded project along with €300 million loans provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. On 22 November 2017, project partners gathered in Ankara to take stock of the successful results and to discuss women's access to finance.
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Through EU Support, 8500 Employers and Employees Improved Their Skills

Thousands of employers and employees received training in the past 20 months through an EU-funded project that has also helped strengthen social dialogue. On 15 November 2017, project partners gathered during the project closure ceremony in Ankara to take stock of results. Through investment in a lifelong learning center, the project also ensured that its beneficiaries will continue benefiting from trainings. 
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Mothers Are Able to Go Back to Work with the Help of Home Based Child-Care Services Supported by the EU

The project aiming to increase the number of working mothers through the use of home-based child care services finalized after the closing ceremony in Ankara.  Program affected the lives of 15,232 child carers and 11,327 working mothers positively.
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