On Wednesday, 8 March 2023, MEP Irena Joveva co-organised a conference titled Western Balkans Media – Lost in Disinformation on the pressures on independent media and media freedom in the Western Balkans. “Media freedom and pluralism are not a given, which, unfortunately, is true also for the Western Balkans. Ensuring the functioning of a free media is one of the key priorities in the EU candidate countries, but it should not be a requirement ticked off on paper as if fulfilled but then filed away and forgotten about“, said Joveva.

All the participating experts from the Western Balkan countries agreed that the state of media freedom in the region is worrying. “There should be a genuine desire to provide their citizens with credible and reliable information, as well to ensure that journalists are free to speak out about facts, including about corruption and political developments, without fear.” Political pressure, threats to journalists and the media, financial instability, sensationalism and biased media reporting, as well as physical, emotional and financial pressure on investigative journalists are just some of the challenges that were highlighted at the roundtable discussion.

Unfortunately, media freedom should not be taken for granted, pointed out Joveva, recalling that there has been considerable pressure on the media in recent years, even within the EU, ranging from attacks on journalists, even violent murders, to political pressure in Hungary, Poland, … and the list goes on. That is why, according to Joveva, it is necessary to constantly bring to light and speak out against intimidation campaigns, pressure and attempts to silence the media. “We have also seen in Slovenia that autocratic governments, when in power, can put strong pressure on this pillar of democracy and use it to exert pressure and misinform the public. Fortunately, that government is no longer in power in Slovenia, but it is nevertheless right to regulate this at the European level,” explained Joveva, who is the rapporteur for her political group Renew Europe on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

The MEP concluded the event by expressing her wish that these topics would feature more prominently, as they are important for both the EU and the Western Balkan countries. “Only well-informed citizens can make informed decisions”, she stressed, adding that only by joining forces can the right environment and conditions for the work of journalists in the region be ensured.

The event was opened with keynote addresses by MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel (The Greens/EFA) and Goran Miletić, Director Europe and MENA Department at Civil Rights Defenders. The guest speakers in the first panel, moderated by MEP Joveva, included Flutura Kusari from the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, Selma Zulić Šiljak from BiH, Project Coordinator at Mediacentar Sarajevo, and Lutfi Dervish, an independent media expert from Albania. The second panel, entitled Disinformation campaigns in the Western Balkans, was moderated by MEP Thijs Reuten (S&D) and featured guest speakers Dr Jasna Jelišić, Head of the Western Balkans Task Force of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Milka Tadić Mijović, President of the Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro, and Nemanja Todorović Štiplija, Editor-in-Chief of European Western Balkans, a regional web portal.

On Friday, 24 February 2023, MEP Irena Joveva took part in a debate with secondary school students entitled If I had a say in the future of education… which was organised as part of the European Parliament Ambassador School project. “We appreciate your honesty, the school system is rigid, adjustments are certainly in order, and your ideas are good,” said the MEP.

During the event, young people took on the role of decision-makers and presented their proposals for action in the field of education.

By way of introduction, the MEP explained that, while education is a matter for each Member State, it is supported, promoted and assisted by the European Union through its activities, which include recommendations, guidelines and plans, as well as through various programmes such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps.

In this context, Joveva sees room for improvement and perhaps for even more EU competences in some segments of education, as leaders in the Member States might have different priorities, but it is paramount to ensure quality and equality in education.

 

The participants put forward many interesting suggestions.

The Gimnazija Bežigrad students focused on computer literacy. They believe that the education system could adapt to the rapid technological advancement by increasing the number of IT lessons, and providing lessons on how to evaluate the reliability sources and other data. They also mention the lack of classes on financial literacy and would like to see the introduction of the use of interactive 3D models to facilitate visualisation and understanding of the topics covered.

The Secondary School of Nursing Ljubljana would prefer an education system where everyone receives individual attention and is able to develop their potential. This could be achieved, they say, through additional teacher training with emphasis on modern teaching methods such as project work and lifelong learning.

The Josip Jurčič Secondary School in Ivančna Gorica proposed introducing the use of tablets. They suggest moving away from the mere reproduction of facts and believe that instead of focusing on quantity, more emphasis should be placed on the quality of the knowledge acquired. “Children need more than just sitting at desks, copying from the board, doing homework and cramming to get good grades in exams.” They would like to see more social skills and compulsory tutoring or learning support provided by upper-secondary students.

Students of Gimnazija Murska Sobota opined that, in the future, education should be a combination of distance learning and classroom work, as this would help students develop stronger technological skills. They proposed that vocationally oriented education should start as early as 6^th grade, or that students be grouped according to their abilities. They also stressed the need for more physical education.

The Gimnazija Celje Center has proposed that the EU should provide funding to modernise school systems and adult education, so that adults would be guaranteed a minimum wage while in education. They also suggest the setting up of centres for the recognition of non-formal education. They would be in favour of EU legislation that would provide for compulsory participation of pupils and students in community programmes.

The students of the Piran Electrical Engineering and Maritime School would develop a core curriculum for all educational institutions in the EU to facilitate the transition of young people to a foreign educational institution for a student exchange, while the students of Gimnazija Šiška would put more emphasis on lifelong learning. They proposed introducing compulsory first aid training and entrance exams for university enrolment.

The future lies in a more relaxed working and learning atmosphere, said the Domžale Secondary School. This would be achieved by having fewer subjects, which would allow for more focus and deeper knowledge instead of cramming. In their view, the school year should be divided into three assessment periods. The tests and assessment of knowledge would be group-based to a greater extent, which would bring teamwork to a higher level.

“There is not enough practical learning in our education,” said the Technical Education Centre Ljubljana. They therefore proposed more internships, specialist courses and sports. They propose making student exchange compulsory and a higher number of field trips .

Students from Gimnazija Kranj wish for more creative thinking. They suggested the introduction of a creativity day, where creative thinking would be taught through workshops and lectures in different (subject) areas – photography, improvisation, 3D animation, and others.

In turn, the I. Gimnazija v Celju proposed the introduction of a special scholarship for gimnazija students, while the School of Service Industries in Velenje reiterated the proposal on the use of tablets in classes, as it would reduce paper consumption and ensure uniform notes. Experiments, discussions, creative writing, public speaking, teamwork and project work would be the main learning activities.

In principle, schools declare their commitment to the principles of social equality, but the reality is different. For this reason, the young students of Gimnazija Litija would like to introduce formalised additional professional support for secondary schools and faculties, as well as additional staff who would be able first to perceive the need for such support and then also provide it.

Responding to the proposals, MEP Joveva said that she was delighted to see so much activity from young people. In her view, many of the ideas presented could be taken on board by the competent authorities, as the education system will need to adapt to today’s fast-paced world and young people know first-hand where adjustments should be made.

The MEP was accompanied by Viktor Kollar from Slovene Philanthropy, who attended the event as a “shadow MEP” (you can read more about the project here). Young participants also received comments to their proposals from MEP Milan Zver and Aleš Ojsteršek, Head of the Education Development Division at the Ministry of Education.

European Works Councils (EWCs)—more than 1,200 of them in the European Union—are bodies representing employees within companies operating in at least two Member States and have at least 1,000 employees. They are set up on the initiative of at least 100 employees from two Member States, and their composition and operation depend on the type of company and a signed agreement between the management and the employees’ representatives. EWCs are responsible for keeping employees properly informed of all important decisions at the European level that could affect their employment or working conditions, and for ensuring consultation between employees and management on the progress of the business of the company in question.

The Directive on the establishment of a European Works Council was last recast in 2008 and ten years later, the Commission’s evaluation reports concluded that European Works Councils have been a key factor in improving access to a broader scope of information available to employees in transnational companies, while safeguarding jobs during restructuring processes. Yet, alongside the positive effects, this report also identifies some gaps in guaranteeing workers’ rights which, when the rights are implemented in a fragmented fashion, create an unequal situation for employees of the same company in different Member States. The report also identifies a lack of enforcement of the Directive in some Member States.

That is why the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, of which I am a full member, drafted a legislative report which was adopted by a large majority in today’s plenary session of the European Parliament.

The adopted text calls on the Commission to carry out a revision of the EWC Directive with a view to clarifying its objectives, definitions and procedures, as well as strengthening the right of employee representatives to information and consultation. It is necessary to ensure that EWCs are stronger in the future and better able to enforce employees’ rights, while at the same time to raise the awareness and visibility of EWCs by mobilising companies that meet the criteria for setting up a EWC to actually set them up. And, above all, it is necessary to clearly demonstrate the added value of EWCs to employees’ representatives and company managements through the involvement of social partners from various sectors and national labour market institutions.

The text further addresses the importance of timely and meaningful consultation on matters of transnational character, especially those affecting jobs and working conditions, which is an important factor in maintaining worker satisfaction in the light of the green and digital transitions, when many companies across Europe are exploring and implementing new working methods. At the same time, a provision was adopted requiring company managements to take the opinions of EWCs into account when making important decisions.

The Commission’s evaluation reports have in some cases found breaches of the Directive (cases where workers’ rights haven’t been enforced), which is why the adopted text includes the introduction of effective, dissuasive and proportionate penalties. EWCs will thus have the right to suspend—or even reject—a decision taken by the company management where the provisions of the Directive are breached.

The text also calls on the Member States to end the exemptions for all agreements concluded before the adoption of the Directive, as we want to ensure that all EWC agreements are governed by the same rights and obligations, in order to ensure equal treatment of workers, access to the application of high Union standards, and legal certainty through the regulatory conditions for the operation of the EWCs as laid down in the Directive.

We have called to ensure effective access to justice by providing EWCs with access to the courts or the competent national labour market authorities. In this respect, Member States will have to ensure that administrative and judicial procedures are facilitated, and they are also tasked with setting up specific negotiating bodies and specifying the legal status of the EWCs. While guaranteeing the right to due process, the adopted legislative report provides that the burden of judicial costs, legal representation, subsistence and travel expenses of the workers’ representative shall be borne by the company’s central management. The penalties to be imposed on undertakings in the event of established infringements depend on the individual Member State and the nature, gravity and duration of the infringement. In the case of serious infringements, in addition to being fined, the company shall also be excluded from an entitlement to some or all public benefits, aids and subsidies, both at the national and European level.

I wish to point out that the Directive on the establishment of a European Works Council is the only piece of legislation addressing at a supranational EU level the rights of workers in transnational companies. It does that by putting in place a legal framework to promote the organisation of information and consultation within companies. It is therefore crucial that the revised directive, which this legislative report calls for, continues to provide such a legal framework at the EU level, while providing both the EWCs and employees with adequate legal protection, including with appropriate penalties in the event of infringements in the application of the Directive. The adopted text truly brings us a step closer to guaranteeing workers’ rights.