Belfast hosts major European Union forum

30 November 2007

Representatives from 24 European Union (EU) member states today attended a major European Policy Forum in Belfast: “Diversifying the Workplace Strategies for Empowerment and Inclusion”.

The Forum focused on outcomes from the EQUAL Initiative which is part of the European Union’s strategy for more and better quality jobs and ensuring that no one is denied access to them. Funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), this initiative has, since 2001, tested new ways of tackling discrimination and inequality experienced by those in work and those looking for a job.

Speaking at the event, Dr Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Employment and Learning, paid tribute to the contribution of the ESF through the EQUAL Community Initiative, in piloting innovative ways of providing access for people facing obstacles to entering the labour market in Northern Ireland.  

She emphasised that EQUAL is a Europe wide initiative, and said:

“The mainstreaming and dissemination of good practice must not only be looked at from a national perspective, as there is much to learn from colleagues in the other Member States encountering similar problems of providing access to the labour market for all.  This Policy Forum is evidence of the commitment to ensuring that the learning from the EQUAL programme is accessed by all involved.”

Speaking about the outcomes from Policy Forum, Dr McGinley said:

“This Forum is the ideal opportunity to identify and bring forward policy recommendations on empowerment and inclusion of people facing obstacles to employment which could be implemented on a regional, national and Europe wide basis.  I have been particularly impressed by the recommendations that would help the economically inactive re-enter the labour market and the concept of an employers’ charter on diversity.”

Dr. McGinley thanked all the participants for their hard work and hoped that this exchange of ideas and learning would continue in the new Northern Ireland ESF programme launched in October.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. EQUAL is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and operates between 2000 and 2008 with a total budget for Northern Ireland of €18million. There are two funding periods. The funding period from 2001 to 2004 supported six Development Partnerships and the current funding period in which the Engage Development Partnership operates runs from 2005 to 2008 and supports 13 partnerships.
  2. The programme is guided by a set of six principles which underpin the activity within EQUAL at Partnership, National and EU levels. These Principles are Partnership, Thematic approach, Innovation, Transnational working, Dissemination and Mainstreaming.   
  3. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
  4. Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.