2007 discharge: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions EUROFOUND

2008/2255(DEC)

PURPOSE: to present the final accounts of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions for the financial year 2007.

CONTENT: this document sets out a detailed account of the implementation of the Foundation’s budget for 2007. It indicates that the Foundation’s final budget amounted to EUR 20.2 million in 2007 (compared with EUR 19.8 million in 2006).

With regard to staff, the Foundation - with headquarters in Dublin (Ireland) - has 94 posts available of which 84 are occupied, and 13 other members of staff (Seconded National Experts, employment agency staff and Contract Agents), which is equivalent to a total staff of 97 undertaking operating activities, administrative tasks and mixed duties.

In 2007, the work undertaken by the Foundation included:

Monitoring and surveys:

  • The European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO), the European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO) and the European Restructuring Monitor (ERM);
  • 4th European Working Conditions Survey: secondary analysis (themes of gender and working conditions, ageing workforce, work organisation, working time and work intensity, etc.);
  • European survey on working time and work-life balance: five reports published in 2007.

Employment and restructuring:

  • Undeclared work;
  • European Restructuring Monitor case studies;
  • Stakeholder enquiry service.

Work–life balance and working conditions:

  • Attractive workplace for all;
  • Flexibility and security over the life course;
  • Changes in the job structure.

Industrial relations and partnership:

  • Codes of conduct and framework agreements;
  • Capacity building for sectoral and local level; social dialogue in the EU 10;
  • Working time and industrial relations.

Social cohesion and quality of life:

  • Role of local authorities in the integration of migrants;
  • Developments in childcare services in disadvantaged areas;
  • Promoting quality of life in rural Europe.

Communication and sharing ideas and experience:

  • 376 publications, 1.57 million users sessions (average of 4 303/day);
  • 37 press activities, 45 press releases, up 28% on 2006;
  • 1 126 article cuttings with advertising value equivalent (AVE) of EUR 2.1 million, reaching ca 58 765 000 people, up 80% from 2006;
  • Promotion campaign ‘Fourth Working Conditions Survey: what workers say’, ‘Quality of Life in Turkey’;
  • Roadshows in five countries;
  • Company Network Seminars on Diversity in Europe and Environmental Changes;
  • Foundation Seminar Series ‘Youth and Work’;
  • National Outreach Centres covering 10 Members States;
  • 16 exhibitions;
  • 58 visits to the Foundation, including the Finnish President.

The Foundation’s full 2007 accounts may be found at the following address: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/about/publicaccess/categories/finance/2008.htm