Power struggle on the EU's foreign policy

Labels: Catherine Ashton, Obama, foreign policy, EU

More recently, it has been contrary to what role the Commission and Member States should play in foreign policy. Since the Lisbon Treaty entered into force and two new records added, the chairman of the Council and as Foreign Minister, has the internal battles wave back and forth. Obama did not come to Madrid for the United States the EU summit due to confusion about who it was who was the host. Or with Henry Kissinger's words, who are calling you to if you want to talk to Europe? Conflict on the position of the EU's ambassador to the United States has also highlighted the issue of the common foreign policy.

Catherine Ashton's something strange relationship-she is both chairman of the Foreign Affairs Council and Vice Chairman of the Commission - reflects the conflict that exists between the two major peace treaty the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 and World War II in 1945.

The Peace of Westphalia established the nation state as the key player in the international arena. Regime in the state was awarded full sovereignty over its own territory, before it could for example other princes, or the Vatican claiming that they had no right to interfere in other countries' internal affairs. Second World War, the EC's creation and the end of the Cold War has meant that other principles come to the fore, namely that state sovereignty curtailed if it has found serious violations of human rights or the States voluntarily agreed to it (as in case with the EU). But still reigns States in the international arena.

The question then is what it has to come up with at the international level.

Baroness Ashton describes it himself this way: "My job is to make our voice stronger and more unified still. As underlined in the European Security Strategy, the European Union should become a more capable, more coherent and more strategic global actor. I will build on the work that has gone before To achieve that goal.

There will also be continuity in our capacity to react in situations of crisis. Our security and defense policy is now a reality, and our capacity in the area of crisis-management is making a real difference on the ground. There is much to be proud of where there was only a common will ten years ago. We do not just make declarations, we act to monitors, to protect and to stabilize. With concrete results.

As High Representative, I Do not replace member states or the Commission, but rather Ensure that we combine views and input into the best interests of Europe. My ambition is to help member states and the Commission, through dialogue, to upgrade their level of consensus on CFSP. I will do so proactively, and I will not settle for the lowest common denominator. "

But the problem she has is a number. In the first sitting member countries in all international organizations. The EU may have observer status at the UN, but the purpose is to coordinate member countries' position. France and Britain are permanent members of the Security Council and when it comes down to it trumps national self-interest of solidarity with the other EU countries, as Iraq war revealed in all clarity. Second, the EU's military muscle is non-existent, and also dependent on member countries' consent. Thirdly, neither the EU's "foreign policy" and its representation in the international context, coherent, ie. back to the question of who Obama is talking to in order to make things happen.  

EU's power lies in three areas: its economic muscles as a trading bloc of exclusive EU competence, development policies and to integrate new members into the Union, which has been successful in democratizing countries in the neighborhood. The big question is whether the EU in the future may translate its economic weight to become more significant foreign policy. It would certainly be needed. If the EU wants a continued economic strength and so it must also be able to influence the rules for world trade, climate policy, energy security and contribute to conflict resolution in troubled parts of the world.  

The problem for Ashton is that she'll have to settle for the lowest common denominator. It saw the Peace of Westphalia to more than 350 years ago

The given stage of higher education policy debate

Labels: higher education

For the third consecutive year, offers TCO to the Conference on Higher Education, 14 April. The conference has almost become a tradition and is now an established venue where the country's leading politicians, representatives of universities, trade unions, employers and students gather to exchange ideas on higher education in present and future. Since it is election year, we invited all the parliamentary parties for a debate on the essential points higher education policy. In addition, we normally offer a packed program of ten workshops in the morning and afternoon.

This year, we want to highlight two issues that deserve more attention. Firstly, the issue of training and skill development. In today's working life, it is difficult to do without replenishment of education. The training individuals bring with them when they enter the labor market is rarely enough for a full career. Many employees want and need a new job or profession lacks the ability to do so. Individual's skills and education has become an increasingly important value for the ability to cope with transitions and opportunities for new career paths in the workplace. Therefore needed a system for skills development and training, and the regular education system should play a central role in this. How it should look like and how it is financed are issues we must resolve.

Secondly, the question of the importance of education throughout the country. During the 1990s, was built in the Swedish university out sharply. New universities were added and the number of students increased rapidly. The political motives behind the expansion was mainly to create conditions for sustained economic growth and reducing social and regional gaps. Several studies show that with the expansion also brought about this. Despite the increasingly heard demands for increased concentration and elite efforts. Some higher education policy reforms have been directly disadvantaged universities and the newer universities. But it is essential that higher education is available throughout the country for continued economic growth, regional development and the opportunities for people to study regardless of their place of residence.

TCO Conference on Higher Education is the given arena of higher education policy debate and to bring the higher education policy agenda before the election campaign.

F-word

Labels: feminism, feminist, International Women's Day, Equal

Of course, I am provoked when someone says that it is not a feminist. Especially if it's someone I like and which I therefore have higher expectations.

Feminism is indeed a social movement, a popular movement that has achieved much. We have it to thank for several of our most important reforms for a more equal society.

That as a woman say that it is not a feminist, is like spitting in the face himself. It is difficult, but you can if it is blowing very strong headwind. But, as you say you are not a feminist, is like spitting in the face another.

While there are many different kinds of feminism, but there is nevertheless a basic sense of the word is common to them all. Feminist is a person: one can see that there is a pattern in society in which men are superior men, and believe this should do something about.

Anyone who says that it is not a feminist, do not see that there is a power structure in society where men are generally arranged over women. Or, you can see it, but think that there needs to be addressed.

To the former, I would ask, Is it only in Sweden that there is a gender-power system? Or is it not done in other parts of the world, including Asia? And if it does not exist in Sweden, where it has not existed in Sweden before, on such 1900s? And if it has been around here, when it ceased to exist? Was it 1925 when women, with some exceptions, had the same rights to government jobs as men, 1950, when even mothers are guardians for their children or 1974, when marital rape was illegal? Creates laws imposing immediate equality? Who can deny that men have more influence than women in key social areas such as economics, politics and culture? Just look at the EU Commission's representation.

A third explanation for the failure is a feminist can be honest of course also be that you do not know what that means.

Footnote: Men = men as a group, avoiding the same as all individual men. Women = men as a group, that not every woman.

The truth lies somewhere in between

Tags:

TCO's former chief economist at the weekend went to the hard attack on the employers' organization Almega and its estimate of how much employment has increased as a result of RUT-deduction. According Almega has nearly 11 000 jobs created in the industry while intently talking about 900 new full time job.

So who is right? As is so often the truth is - probably - somewhere in between. We have as yet insufficient evidence to draw any conclusions besämda the effects of this reform.

The first problem is to determine how much turnover in the industry. Roland tension has been based on the average turnover per month since July converted to full-year. Almega has been based on the period from November to February on the grounds that the system is so new and the market is still growing very rapidly. This is probably justified. The problem is that three months, which also contains some special month of December, is perhaps too short to draw firm conclusions. Both tension and Almega correct then their numbers in a not entirely convincing. Almega add 10% for non-deductible business while tense draw in 20% with reference to cheating, etc..

                                            Almega               RS                 

RUT-deduction per month              99                   60

Turnover per year                   2379               1440

Hourly household            192                 360                

Full-time                     7586               2222

Roland tense assumes that hourly rates charged to households amounted to SEK 360 before deductions. The corresponding figure in Almega's calculation can be estimated to 192 SEK, a figure that is based on net sales per employee per year in companies' financial statements for 2008. This seems to be a substantial underestimate of the true cost. The leading company in the market takes 360 kr / h, excluding a cancellation fee of 270 kr / month. Including that charge hourly rates are therefore mellam 422 and 376 SEK / hour for 2-8 hours of cleaning every other week.

This raises the question of the deduction actually has been households benefited fully, or if the companies taken the opportunity to raise prices. This is an issue that we currently do not have the answer but that obviously should be considered in the analysis of the deduction effects.

In a previous blog here on the investigators, I have shown that the deduction for household services can be combined with different types of employment assistance, such as entry-level jobs. Subsidy rate would be very well exceed 100 percent.

Assuming that the company's labor cost for the employee amounts to SEK 145 per hour, but the household is charged SEK 360 per hour, so will the household deduction along with the company's employment support together represent nearly 200 percent of labor costs.

TCO has basically been positive to the right of deduction for household services. The main argument has not been that this was a powerful and cost-effective way to create new jobs. If the purpose is only to create new jobs, there is probably much cheaper way to do this. The crucial question is whether the deduction helps to simplify the ordinary working people to life puzzle. You should consider the deduction may be limited to families with children and the elderly.

More young people and single mothers visited with churches charities

Labels: unemployment insurance, insurance, churches, health insurance, sick leave, welfare, charitable

More and more young people and children of single mothers are in contact with the churches deacons when they or their families seeking help. According to a new survey by Lund diocese's Office has made and presented in the latest issue of the Journal of the Church.

• 72 percent of the pins deacons felt that requests for assistance had increased in 2009.
• It is mainly single mothers and young people under 30 have turned to the deacons.

"The economic crisis has led to a decline in society as more becomes out-insured," says Deacon Diocese of Lund Janne Nilsson. He, like second deacons in the country, are currently experiencing more falls through it all WIDE-MESHED social safety net. Many of them are women. Of the more than 50 000, which this year will perform secured by health insurance, not because they have recovered, but because they passed the "sunset clause", is about 65-70 percent women.

It is for example if women Britt-Marie, Karina, and Saida. They would like nothing better than to work and support themselves, but their health, prevent it. The new sickness insurance rules make them loose and they are retreating to the longest in quest of the municipal social welfare office and ask for financial assistance (welfare). This reality upsets ever more, not only those who sympathize with the opposition.

Some of the out-insured will not even be felt in the towns, the Insurance and Employment Service's future statistics. Have for example a spouse who has an income that allows households go above the poverty is, even if it performs hedged, not entitled to social assistance. These families are poor and are therefore invisible at the same time.

With the help of statistics can show a lot. But it is, after all, those who are closest to the vulnerable people who first notice when something is wrong. Therefore, there is great reason to listen to what the church's deacons warns. In a few months is the reality they describe partially converted into statistics. Then, for many victims may be too late to act ...

From MOT to song contest: the quality evaluation of higher education

Labels: higher education, education quality

Soon, the hotly awaited and increasingly controversial-quality bill, which the Government will propose the elements of the money for higher education should be allocated for new quality criteria. The last promised date is 23 March.

From what has become known so far it seems that the Higher Education's assessment role is changed from MOT to the song contest. Somewhat simplified, one can say that the National Agency not only to ensure that training is an approved minimum level, similar to vehicle testing. The idea is to continue to act song contest and identify the types of training are best. These are then, in addition to the honor, get a financial reward.

The day before yesterday (on 3 March), offered training in the department among other universities, the National Agency, the Swedish National Union of Students (SFS) and the Swedish Higher Education (SUHF) to a so-called "reconciliation meeting" to present the new proposal for a new quality assessment and resource allocation systems . I was not there, but multiple sources told that many of those present were quite critical of both the Education Department's proposal for handling the whole matter.

The background is that the government in March last year asked the National Agency to develop a proposal for a new quality evaluation system. Högskoleverket succeeded after a long process of balancing act to develop a proposal to broadly supported by both universities as the student movement. So far so good. The problems began when the Ministry of Education expressed dissatisfaction with the Higher Education's proposal and began to make changes to it in detail. Here are some elements of the Government's proposals:

• The training courses will be given grades on a scale fyrgradig. Only those courses that may be the highest score will be assigned additional resources, coupled with the number of full-time students. The lowest rating is, much like today, lead to the suspension of licensing. This could possibly (depending on how much money they are) make significant contributions to some great courses. But for smaller courses are supplements probably modest, and the great value lies rather in the grade amenities to recruit new students. Higher Education Administration had proposed a three level categorization.
• The new resources will come from the money saved on charges of third-country students for next year. However, it is unclear what amount is involved.
• The emphasis in the new quality assessment system is clearly on students' performance, particularly the assessment of theses. Högskoleverket wanted in his proposal also include the so-called progression, therefore, how much students learn during training. In this way, the system could better evaluate the training, rather than students. A major flaw in the government's proposal, according to the data so far come forward, is that it does not take into account students' backgrounds and circumstances but only takes into account student performance, probably penalize colleges and the newer universities.

Others who blogged about this is Kåre Bremer.

The debate on youth unemployment continues

Labels: employment, LAS, Per Skedinger, Swedish business, temporary employment, youth unemployment, fixed -

In today's Svenska Dagbladet is Per Skedinger from the Institute of Industrial Research A final reply to our debate on anställningsskyddets importance for the Swedish high youth unemployment.

As I wrote in my blog comment to Skedinger last article was the reason we did not take his fifteen years old research report that in a short report was necessary to make a distinction. We concentrated therefore on studies from the last ten years, which reflects the current state of research. The aim was not to deprive readers of research.

Blogs and discussion pages is really the wrong forum for such a complex issue that the state of research in terms anställningsskyddets impact on youth unemployment. What I can do is to invite the interested to read the relevant sections of both the TCO's report on anställningsskyddets importance of youth unemployment as Skedinger book the subject. One thing we clearly agree on is the many pitfalls that studies the relationship between labor and employment provides.

As a labor lawyer specialized in comparative law, I would particularly point to the sway of the index of employment protection on the basis of the majority of the studies. OECD published as recently as last year a new version of its index, in which they attempted to take into account some of the objections raised in the previous index. One consequence of the new estimates is that Sweden is now ranked as the tenth most liberal of the 30 countries surveyed. With the OECD's way of calculating, Sweden is not a country with strict labor laws.

Whether one believes that research has shown that there is a connection between employment and youth unemployment in Sweden or not, it is important to not forget the main issue. Located employment protection, the key factors behind the high Swedish youth unemployment? Or are there other areas that are more important and therefore should be in focus for efforts to combat youth unemployment?

Skedinger study from 1995 showed a correlation between the unemployment rate among 16-19-year-olds and strict employment protection. For 20 to 24 year olds, there was no such link. Against this must be the clear research findings that exist with regard to the importance of education for young people's opportunities in the labor market (even after the age of 20 years). The report Youth Unemployment and folk high schools written by Jonas Olofsson containing a statement of research in this area.

Minister's own figure is disputed by the minister himself ...

Tags: unions, law, health, rehabilitation, referral, response, health insurance, health care, interpretation

Yesterday the union ST a very serious criticism of the so-called final stage in the rehabilitation chain (the induction program at the Employment Service which carries out the assured reference). The criticism was based on a survey made in 3500 ST-members employed at the Employment Service and Insurance.

The picture of what ST members feel is very clear: "The reform will not work as intended and the government has grossly misjudged the health needs of the chronically ill," sums up Annette and Roger Carnhede Syrén in DN-debate article.

According to ST's survey respondents believe the members that as many as 61 percent of the long-term sick need medical rehabilitation and care. The government's assessment that the reform was launched, according to union ST, that only 10 percent was estimated to return to health insurance (because they were too sick).

In yesterday's DN questioned Cristina Husmark Persson including ST's statement that the Government said that about 10 percent of the performance of insured would need care.

This is somewhat surprising, especially given that this particular figure (10%) are in fact long as the basis for the estimates of the returns to health insurance made in the proposal that Cristina herself sent out for consultation (DS 2009:45).

In its response to the referral, DS 2009:45 (p. 18) wrote such Insurance regarding the economic impact: "The Working Group memo shows the calculation of payments of sick pay as a consequence of the proposals will increase by about 700, 900 and 1 000 million during the years 2010-2012. These calculations are based on the assumption that about 10 percent of the interested groups will get back into health insurance. "

Certainly one can understand that it is sometimes a little too hard to keep track of all figures and calculations. But before a minister go out and question the information that others present, it is expected nevertheless some facts track, at least of what himself and his own department earlier said and done in the matter. Unfortunately this is not the first time that Social Security Minister surface defects.

Cristina Husmark Person has previously put forward questionable data on what respondents said and not said, and launched their own interpretation of the law as then challenged by the Social Insurance Agency. It is sad that every time this happened, we had a discussion about what is really a side issue (ie if the minister will remember or interpret the law) and the focus has shifted from the main action (ie, how health insurance really works).

I think it would be a shame if the main focus once again förskjöts from that union ST excellently formulated and attested in its investigation, which is that we now apparently have health insurance does not work as intended and where the government of individual people with ill health often suffer because of excessive and uncertain legal rules. Now let's discuss this!

Problemen i sjukförsäkringen bara fortsätter och fortsätter och…

Etiketter: adriana lender , arbetsförmedlingen , cristina husmark-pehrson , försäkringskassan , sjukförsäkring

Problemen med regeringens sjukförsäkring tycks aldrig ta slut. Varje vecka berättas om medborgare som råkat illa ut på grund av den sk rehabiliteringskedjan. En del Allianssympatisörer tvekar, på grund av regeringens sjukförsäkringspolitik, när det gäller om/hur de skall rösta i höstens val. Olika experter uttrycker, numera med jämna mellanrum, allvarlig kritik mot lagstiftningen på området.

Nyligen konstaterade exempelvis Försäkringskassans generaldirektör Adriana Lender ( DN Debatt 9/2 ) att det finns fortsatta oklarheter, trots regeringens senaste förtydliganden, angående hur lagstiftningen ska tolkas. Det handlar bland annat om när det ska anses ”oskäligt” att hänvisa sjukskrivna till arbete och vem som är så ”allvarligt sjuk” att vederbörande har rätt till sjukpenning utan tidsgräns.

Lenders DN-debattartikel ledde till att tom Svenskt Näringsliv , som ändå var en av de mer positiva instanserna i en flod av i övrigt mycket kritiska remissinstanser när den nya lagen infördes, krävde att den nya luddiga sjukförsäkringen måste förtydligas.

Idag går också Fackförbundet ST ut med en synnerligen allvarlig kritik mot det sk sista steget i rehabiliteringskedjan (det introduktionsprogram på AF dit de utförsäkrade hänvisas). Man grundar sin kritik på en enkät gjord bland 3.500 medlemmar anställda på Arbetsförmedlingen och Försäkringskassan. Bilden är mycket tydlig.

“ Reformen fungerar inte som det var tänkt och regeringen har grovt felbedömt vårdbehovet hos de långtidssjuka “, skriver Annette Carnhede och Roger Syrén idag på DN-debatt . Regelverket och Arbetsförmedlingens insatser är helt enkelt inte anpassade efter de sjukskrivnas behov, konstaterar artikelförfattarna.

Trots de stora problemen och störtfloden av invändningar mot regeringens sjukförsäkringspolitik tar socialförsäkriningsministern det kyligt. “Vänta och se, tids nog kommer nog också ni att inse att vi gjort rätt”, så kan ministerns svar till fackförbundet ST och andra kritiker sammanfattas (se dagens DN ).

Problemet är bara att under tiden som Cristina och regeringen väntar så far många medborgare med ohälsa  väldigt illa. Den fråga som socialförsäkringsminisern borde ställa sig är nog snarare “ har jag råd att avstå från att lyssna in kritiken?”

Vi blir fler och fler för varje dag som går som inser att det enda raka i sjukförsäkringsfrågan är att göra ett tillfälligt ”utförsäkrings-stopp” och samtidigt ordentligt se över de orimliga tidsgränserna . “Hellre rätt än snabbt” borde då devisen vara. Inte tvärtom…

Fler studenter än någonsin, konstaterar Högskoleverket

Etiketter: dimensionering av högskolan , forskningspolitik , högre utbildning

Under 2009 var det fler helårsstudenter på våra universitet och högskolor än någonsin tidigare, nästan 300 000, konstaterar Högskoleverket i dag . Det är ett glädjande besked; TCO har länge påtalat behovet av fler högskoleutbildade, bland annat för att stärka Sveriges internationella konkurrenskraft. Vi är tyvärr inget “ föregångsland ” i det här avseendet .

Särskilt glädjande är det att regeringen, trots löften om motsatsen, inte stoppat utbyggnaden av högskolan, utan tvärtom bidragit till den. Visserligen har argumentationen varit en annan än TCO:s, nämligen att utbyggnaden bara behövs under den ekonomiska krisen, då många fler söker sig till och blir kvar i högskolan. De 10 000 nya högskoleplatserna som regeringen skapat i år och nästa år ska alltså dras in därefter. TCO menar i stället att utbyggnaden måste göras permanent. Det behövs både för att de ungdomar som vill studera på högskolan ska kunna göra det och för att redan yrkesverksamma ska kunna vidareutbilda sig under ett arbetsliv som ställer allt högre kunskapskrav.

De närmsta åren kommer vi antagligen att se en minskad efterfrågan på högre utbildning, till följd av mindre ungdomskullar och förbättrat konjunkturläge. Det får inte automatiskt tas till intäkt för att dra ned på resurserna till den högre utbildningen. Regeringen måste fortsatt se till att upprätthålla andelen unga som får högskoleutbildning och äldre som får vidareutbildning. Därutöver bör de resurser som eventuellt “frigörs” gå till kvalitetssatsningar.

En intressant detalj i Högskoleverkets analys är att lärosätena visar ett sammanlagt överskott på två miljarder kronor, i genomsnitt 14 procent av den totala omsättningen. Även om det är en rekordnotering som till stor del förklaras av tillfälligt outnyttjade forskningsintäkter, har lärosätenas balanserade kapitalförändring (även kallat ackumulerat myndighetskapital) vuxit stadigt de senaste åren. Det är ett problem. Lärosätena är myndigheter och ska inte visa överskott. På vissa lärosäten rör det sig om uppemot 20 procent av omsättningen, alltså dubbelt så mycket som det tillåtna överskottet för myndigheter.

Lärosätena bör i större utsträckning använda delar av sitt ackumulerade kapital till åtgärder som höjer utbildningskvaliteten. Regeringen bör också följa upp varför en betydande del av dess väl tilltagna forskningssatsning inte används av lärosätena, eller, som Högskoleverket skriver, varför “forskningsintäkterna fortsatt att öka utan att kostnaderna har ökat i samma takt”. Naturligtvis tar det sin tid att bygga upp forskningssatsningar, inte minst att anställa personal, men om lärosätena inte kan använda forskningsmedlen i den takt de strömmar in kanske de inte borde strömma in i den takten eller till just de lärosätena. Det finns anledning att följa upp hur forskningsmedlen fördelas och används de närmsta åren.