(EP) This week in the Committee on Petitions

Date of article: 10/06/2022

Daily News of: 10/06/2022

Country:  EUROPE

Author: Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament

Article language: en

Wednesday 15 June 2022, 9.00 – 12.30 and 14.30 – 18.30

Thursday 16 June 2022, 9.00 – 12.30


the Antall building, room 4Q1

Hearings

 

The environmental and social impacts of new renewable energies in Europe. Wednesday 14.30–17.30

Guest speakers and topics:

Răzvan Eugen Nicolescu on renewable energies in the context of the Ukraine crisis, energy sovereignty, European Green Deal, and the Renewable Energy Directive revision.

Veerle Dossche on the impacts on biodiversity and the territory of large installations of renewable energy projects; public participation, governance and compensation mechanisms; and the impacts on farming and employment.

Christoph Pfemeter on aspects related to the implementation of new renewables energies; impacts on the environment (land and offshore), and synergies with interconnection and T&D infrastructures.

With discussions on related petitions:

·  0148/2021 by Vasilis Eleftheriou (Greek) on the environmental impact of wind farms in Agrafa, Greece

 

·  0402/2019 by Guillaume Boraud (French), on behalf of Défense Des Marais de l’Estuaire (DDME), on the wind turbines project along the Gironde estuary (Natura 2000)

 


The United Kingdom and Erasmus+”. See the programme and more information here.

Hearing of the Committee on Culture and Education, in association with the Committee on Petitions. Spinelli building, room 1G3, Wednesday 16.30–18.00

Consideration of petitions

Wednesday

0827/2021by Patricia Brunner (German), on behalf of the International Au Pair Association (IAPA), on establishing a reciprocal youth mobility scheme between the UK and the EU

0964/2020 by Alain Jerick Gutierrez Tria (Spanish) on the need for civil partnerships entered into in the United Kingdom to be recognised in all other EU Member States

0095/2020 by S.R. (Croatian) on the incongruence between the visa-free travel for U.S. citizens to the EU and the obligation for a VISA imposed on citizens of some EU Member States when travelling to the U.S.

0279/2022 by Paul Nemecek (Austrian), on behalf of NÖ Bauernbund, on the strategic security of food supply and agricultural production in the EU

1167/2021 by Fernando Jesús Santiago Ollero (Spanish), on behalf of the Consejo General de Colegios de Gestores Administrativos de España (Spain’s General Council of Administrative Agents) regarding the profession of administrative agent

Thursday

0699/2021 by Alfons Barti Borrell (Spanish), on behalf of the association ‘Barcelona Comerç and the federation of associations Vitrines d’Europe’, on the creation of a European Capital of Local Trade

0095/2021 by Lucille Richard (French), on behalf of Bassines Non Merci, bearing 45 signatures, on supplementary reserves for agricultural irrigation that are in breach of the Water Framework Directive

0190/2021 by Eskil Nielsen (Danish) on the environmental impact of the planned artificial island Lynetteholmen in Copenhagen

0511/2021 by Ole Damsgaard (Danish), on behalf of The Danish Society for Nature Conservation, on the impact assessment for project Lynetteholm in relation to Directive 2011/92/EU

1120/2021 by Lidija Šmačko (Latvian) on the alleged insufficient measures to reduce environmental noise in Riga, Latvia

0261/2022 by Francesco Accardo (Italian), on behalf of Class Action Italia, signed by two other persons, on the alleged failure to implement architectural barrier elimination plans (PEBA) in Italy

0440/2022 by R.S. (Polish) on the allocation of EU funds in Poland

1425/2020 by Giovanni Esposito (Italian), on behalf of the Italian National Council of Industrial Experts (the CNPI – Consiglio Nazionale dei Periti Industriali e dei Periti Industriali Laureati), on the incorrect transposition of Directive 2013/59/Euratom by the Italian Government

1433/2020 by Guerino Ferri (Italian) on the alleged failure of Italy to implement in full Directive 2013/59/Euratom

 



 

 
 
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Children in institutional care would benefit from having laws to lean on

Date of article: 17/06/2022

Daily News of: 10/06/2022

Country:  Czechia

Author: Czech Public Defender of Rights

Article language: en

The summary report from the facilities for children, who – due to various reasons — cannot be cared for by their biological or foster family, provides an overview of findings from systematic visits to twelve children's homes and educational institutions. Lawyers from the Office of the Ombudsman, together with experts on children's issues, visited them in 2019-2021 as part of the agenda for the prevention of ill-treatment of people deprived of their liberty. The Deputy Ombudsman Monika Šimůnková, who is in charge of this agenda, then formulated recommendations for both the Ministry of Education and the facilities themselves.

"At present, there are 6 500 children living in children homes or educational institutions in our country, which is still a very large number. Although I would like to see them grow up outside institutions, preferably in a family environment, I accept that institutional care has a role to play in the current child care system and I appreciate the work of all those involved in caring for children in institutions. I believe that by systematically visiting and monitoring of these institutions, we are helping to ensure that institutions can create the best possible conditions for children. These are necessary to give as many children as possible the chance to live a full adult life," said Monika Šimůnková, Deputy Ombudsman.

In her opinion, the current legislation does not sufficiently take into account the individual needs of children. The Act on Institutional Education has been in force for 20 years with minor modifications. According to Šimůnková, there is no reasonable concept that would distinguish and work with children's needs. The consequence is that children in institutions sometimes have to adapt to a stricter regime than would be appropriate for them.

Moreover, systematic visits showed that both the directors and the staff of the establishments would welcome a modification of regulations to better reflect the current situation. In fact, unlike informal bringing up in families, in institution the staff can only do what the law explicitly empowers them to do. Sometimes they are on the edge of the law in their decisions, even if they are made for the benefit of the child. A simple example of this would be simple outings. The law on institutional care grants children a number of rights. It allows the authorities to intervene if the child breaches his or her obligations. However, it is no longer possible to do the same if it is in the child's own interests, for example, to protect the child's health and safety. Children over the age of seven have the right to go out on their own. However, the law does not specify how to deal with outings for children who, because of their immaturity or other mental or physical vulnerability, are unable to move safely independently outside the facility. If the home management does not allow such a child to walk independently, it is currently in breach of the law.

"Furthermore, there are no clearly defined criteria for service provision and no legal standards for quality of care. For example, the Ombudsman has been pointing out since 2011 that the law does not contain a definition of so-called educational and therapeutic care. Facilities that provide it are now facing the impossibility of employing medical staff," Šimůnková lists other shortcomings of the current legislation. For example, she recommended that the Ministry of Education define the target group of educational and therapeutic care not through the medical diagnosis of children, but through the individual needs of each specific child.

The recommendations for institutions are directed at two main areas: removing elements of institutionalisation is a crucial step in preparing children for independent life after leaving the institution. "An unintended consequence of having to manage the care of several children in one place is that all activities, from daily routines to meals to leisure time, are often over-organised. However, life in the facility should be tailored to the needs of the children as much as possible. It should therefore not be primarily driven by the operational or organisational needs of the facility," explains Štěpán Jílka, who is responsible for children's facilities at the Ombudsman's Office. In his opinion, children in institutions should not only have the chance to spend their free time as they wish, but above all they should be given the opportunity to learn their duties - from preparing meals or shopping to managing money or preparing for a future profession.

The summary report also includes an analysis of 241 court decisions ordering institutional care obtained during visits to nine facilities. In the vast majority of cases, the courts cited multiple reasons for ordering a child to be institutionalized. The most frequently mentioned were the child's behavioural disorders and problems at school. However, for judgments ordering institutional education in a regular children's home, i.e. not in a facility for children with behavioural problems, the most common reasons were social, such as the family's poor housing or financial situation.

The analysis also showed that in the vast majority of cases (88.4% of the decisions), the courts used less severe measures such as supervision of the child, stay in an educational care centre or in a facility for children in need of immediate assistance before imposing institutional education. Proceedings for institutional care most often lasted between one and three months.

The summary report will now be sent to all institutions of institutional and protective care and other institutions so that their representatives can apply the findings and recommendations in their practice. The Deputy Ombudsman will then invite The Ministry of Education to use her recommendations to work on systemic changes in the care of children at risk.

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El Síndic investiga a Sanidad por la opacidad en las listas de espera

Date of article: 10/06/2022

Daily News of: 09/06/2022

Country:  Spain - Valencia

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Valencia

Article language: es

El síndic de Greuges, Ángel Luna, ha abierto una queja de oficio para investigar la información que difunde Sanidad sobre las listas de espera de consultas externas de atención especializada y pruebas diagnósticas, así como de intervenciones quirúrgicas para cada paciente en concreto. Toda esta información, según dicta la normativa vigente, debería estar al alcance del usuario tan solo introduciendo su número SIP en la página web de la Conselleria de Sanidad y Salud Pública.

Sin embargo, la realidad es que actualmente no se conocen los datos globales, ni la situación por especialidades ni patologías en consultas externas o pruebas diagnósticas. Asimismo, el usuario tampoco puede acceder al “Registro Individualizado de Lista de Espera de Consultas Externas y pruebas diagnósticas/terapéuticas”. Al paciente únicamente se le ofrece información sobre el total de días que lleva esperando y el tiempo aproximado pendiente hasta que le realicen su intervención. Una estimación orientativa, basada en cuántos días han tardado el 80% de los pacientes ya operados en su mismo hospital y servicio.

El defensor considera que esta información es esencial para que los pacientes incluidos en las listas de espera puedan controlar y exigir a la Conselleria de Sanidad el respeto de su derecho a acceder, en condiciones de igualdad, a las prestaciones sanitarias en un tiempo máximo.

Por otra parte, el Síndic solicita a Sanidad que le informe de las medidas adoptadas en las oficinas de control de la demora, creadas en cada departamento de salud, para mejorar la transparencia de las listas de espera. Del mismo modo, el defensor requiere la evaluación del grado de cumplimiento de los cuatro objetivos previstos en el Plan ÓPTIMA para diciembre de 2023: a) disminuir el número de pacientes en lista de espera quirúrgica en un 25%; b) reducir a cero el número de pacientes que esperan más de 180 días en lista de espera quirúrgica; c) reducir la demora media a 70 días; y d) reducir a un 20% el número de primeras consultas externas de más de 60 días.

Cabe destacar que, a fecha de abril de 2022,  la demora media estructural de lista de espera quirúrgica en la Comunidad Valenciana es de 95 días. Y, de un total de 61.783 pacientes, 13.100 esperan entre 91 y 180 días para ser intervenidos, mientras que 11.146 sufren una demora de más de 180 días para operarse.

Las mayores listas de espera se concentran en  el Departamento de Salud de Sant Joan D’Alacant; D’Alcoi; General de Valencia; General de Alicante; La Fe; y Vinaros. Por el contrario, el de Manises; Gandía; Sagunt; Denia; y Doctor Peset, de Valencia, son los que tienen menores demoras, con una considerable diferencia.

Enlace para ver la resolución de inicio de investigación sobre este asunto:

11858011.pdf (elsindic.com)

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El Justicia inicia un expediente de mediación  entre las partes afectadas al problema de espacio del Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Zaragoza

Date of article: 27/05/2022

Daily News of: 02/06/2022

Country:  Spain - Aragón

Author: Regional Ombudsman of Aragón

Article language: es


El Justicia inicia un expediente de mediación con el objetivo de buscar una solución entre las partes afectadas al problema de espacio del Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Zaragoza
 

 

Tras la reunión celebrada la pasada semana con padres y madres de alumnos, y tras haber realizado dos sugerencias al Gobierno de Aragón, la Institución va a convocar en una mesa de trabajo  a la comunidad educativa del CPMZ, al Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza y al  Departamento de Educación, Cultura y Deporte.
 

 

 


 Zaragoza 24/05/22

El Lugarteniente del Justicia, Javier Hernández, recibió el pasado día 17 a un grupo de padres y madres de alumnos del Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Zaragoza, quienes le trasladaron las diferentes movilizaciones e iniciativas que están desarrollando en su reivindicación de la necesidad de una nueva sede o ampliación de los espacios de dicho centro educativo.

Esta problemática ha sido abordada desde el Justiciazgo en varias ocasiones, habiendo sido objeto de sugerencias al Departamento de Educación, Cultura y Deporte a través de los expedientes 
474-2018 y 574-2021, en las que la Institución conminaba al  Gobierno de Aragón a que “se proceda a la búsqueda y adaptación de un espacio para trasladar el Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Zaragoza que se ajuste a las necesidades de uso, o bien se proceda a la rehabilitación de algún edificio disponible para su uso específico como Conservatorio Profesional de Música, ajustándolo a sus necesidades de uso presentes y previsión de necesidades futuras.”

Y que, de esta manera, como consta de manera exhaustiva en el primero de los expedientes, se cumpliera con las características que establece el Real Decreto 303/2010 por el que se establecen los requisitos mínimos de los centros que impartan enseñanzas artísticas reguladas.

El Departamento aceptó dichas sugerencias en mayo de 2020, pero por parte de los padres y madres de alumnos del Centro, se nos ha traslado que no se ha avanzado en esta materia y que por ello realizan la nueva petición de amparo al Justicia.

Dentro de la dinámica establecida desde la Institución de resolución de expedientes actuando a través de la mediación, se ha procedido a abrir un expediente de oficio y convocar a todas las partes afectadas para buscar una solución definitiva a esta problemática, y poder llevar a efecto las sugerencias de la Institución aceptadas por el Departamento de Educación, Cultura y Deporte.
 

 
 

 
 
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Pašalić: Recognizing trafficking in human beings of utmost importance

Date of article: 02/06/2022

Daily News of: 02/06/2022

Country:  Serbia

Author: Protector of citizens - Ombudsman of Serbia

Article language: en

Zoran Pašalić, the Protector of Citizens, stated today that in the fight against trafficking in human beings, timely identification of trafficking either in the family or particular social groups is of utmost importance, and then urgent, adequate coordinated competent authorities’ reaction to protect THB victims.

“Trafficking in human beings poses a severe social problem, which is frequently invisible and may be anywhere without us being aware. This is why it is crucial to timely identify that it is human trafficking, which is something competent authorities should pay special attention to, and they would be monitored by the Protector of Citizens in the capacity of the National Rapporteur in the field of Human Trafficking who addressed the protection of victims of trafficking over the previous years,” Pašalić said.

Following the information from the media about suspicion of the trafficking in human beings, the Protector of Citizens launched its own initiative investigation to control the work legality and regularity of the Social Welfare Center “Solidarnost” Pančevo, Center for the Protection of Human Trafficking Victims, Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Policy and the Ministry of the Interior. This case ended before the court with a conviction against the abuser.

In the control investigation, the Protector of Citizens determined that the SWC in Pančevo and the Center for Protection of Victims of Trafficking did not react timely in this case, thus creating an environment that led to trafficking because they failed to timely recognize that it was human trafficking, and sent recommendations to these authorities to rectify shortcomings and improve the work.

“When it is not recognized timely that it is trafficking in human beings, the traumas that victim suffers are extremely difficult and long-lasting. This is why it is very important to determine as soon as possible, on the grounds of available information, that it is trafficking in human beings, especially when the victims of trafficking are children” Pašalić underscored.

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