AFAEMME participates in the European Parliament’s Citizen’s AGORA on Climate Change

Published by P. Horvath, June 19th, 2008, Barcelona (Spain)

AFAEMME was invited; once again, to the European Parliament’s Citizen’s AGORA held in Brussels on June 12th and 13th. This year’s Agora was centred on climate change, one of the major challenges facing our societies.

The event gathered 500 representatives from the European civil society who discussed, in 5 separate workshops, different facets of this challenge, including the resources needed and the possible techniques that should be used to cope with this issue, as well as the economic impact of climate change. After the two work days, five papers were generated, one for each workshop, which summarized the debates and presented the range of options that emerged from the discussions. The papers were presented during the plenary and the last press conference of this year’s Agora.

AFAEMME was represented in the event by Paola Horvath, AFAEMME’s Project Coordinator, and was also attended by Mrs. Flutura Xhabija, AFAEMME’s Treasurer.

For more information on the topics discussed in the Agora, please click here.

Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
in the European Parliament’s Citizen’s AGORA

Mª Helena de Felipe is Elected Vice-President of OMEGA

Published by P. Horvath, June 9th, 2008, Barcelona (Spain)

OMEGA, Spain’s Organisation of Businesswomen and Active Management, held its Ordinary General Assembly last June 4th. As a member of OMEGA, AFAEMME was represented in the event by Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe, who was elected Vice-President of OMEGA for a period of four years.

OMEGA, which was founded on December 1989 as non profit organisation, is an intersectorial national business confederation that brings together more than 6.000 associates from all Spain, including Associations, Federations and Business Organisations.

AFAEMME participates in the First Meeting of the EC’s Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and Economy

Published by P. Horvath, June 9th, 2008, Barcelona (Spain)

On June 2nd Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe participated in the first meeting of the European Commission’s Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and Economy. The network is an initiative of the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Mr. Vladimir Spidla and it involves 15 other European organizations belonging to the EU27. It is expected that the work experience and the reputation of the organisations participating in this project will contribute to achieving gender balance in decision-making, breaking down the existing barriers to women’s career progress and giving them a higher visibility and profile.

Mr. Vladimir Spidla

AFAEMME Signs Agreement with Banc Sabadell

Published on April 28th, 2008, Barcelona (Spain)

Last March AFAEMME signed a collaboration agreement with Banc Sabadell of Spain which offers important benefits for all its member organisations and their own members.

Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, Mrs. Gemma Amat (Director of Colectives of Banc Sabadell) and Mrs. Beatriz Fdez-Tubau Rodés

The EC Launches the Enterprise Europe Network

Published on April 28th, 2008, Barcelona (Spain)

Last February, the European Commission’s Vice President Mr. Günter Verheugen launched Enterprise Europe Network, a new and powerful European support network for enterprises. All major players of the business support community in Europe have united to offer a one-stop service to assist especially small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop their full potential and innovative capacity. The Enterprise Europe Network includes more than 500 contact points for entrepreneurs in Europe. They provide a full range of support services in close proximity to SMEs covering the whole EU territory and going even beyond. Participants at the launch event included Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for Science and Research, Slovenian Minister of Economy Andrej Vizjak, the President of the Committee of Regions Luc Van den Brande and the President of the Group of Employers of the EESC Henri Malosse, Presidents of business organisations and representatives of SMEs.

Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen responsible for enterprise and industry policy said: “The new Enterprise Europe Network is a milestone in the Commission's integrated policy for promoting entrepreneurship and growth of enterprises in Europe. I call on all entrepreneurs in the EU and beyond to use it to the best of their needs".

Committee of Regions President Luc Van den Brande said: “The Committee of the Regions fully supports the initiative because it is an example of Europe working in partnership. Regions and cities are Europe's engines of growth and jobs and real engagement with SMEs has to take place on their doorstep to be effective.”

European Social and Economic Committee President, Dimitris Dimitriadis said: “Entrepreneurship is the key for Europe to facing the challenges of globalisation, creating new jobs and innovation. Therefore is the launch of this Enterprise Europe Network an important step in the right direction."

Enterprise Europe Network combines the strengths of the previous Euro Info Centre with the Innovation Relay Centre networks. With the new network, business receives ‘Business Support on Your Doorstep’, as the slogan suggests. The ‘No wrong door’ principle will apply for the whole network and for each network partner. All SMEs will receive information and a personalised service tailored to their needs, making best use of modern technologies and from every organisation in the new network.

The new Enterprise Europe Network is part of the Commission's integrated policy for promoting entrepreneurship and growth of enterprises in Europe. It will support SMEs from all sectors to take greater advantage of the opportunities of the Single Market.

Mr. Gunter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission

AFAEMME becomes member of the EC’s Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and the Economy

Published by P. Horvath, April 2nd, 2008, Barcelona (Spain)

AFAEMME has been chosen, with 15 other European organizations belonging to the EU27, to work in the European Commission's “Network of Women in Decision-making in Politics and the Economy”, which forms part of the Institute for Gender Equality, due to our organisation’s vast experience and reputation. The invitation was extended by Mr. Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, by Ms. Fay Devonic, Head of Unit "Equality between Women and Men" and by Mrs. Fátima Ribeiro, also from this Directorate General.

During the following two years, Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME, will participate in several meetings that will discuss the advances made in gender equality in the economic area and to make proposals about solutions that could help increase equality in decision-making levels in companies.

Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Letonen, President of AFAEMME

Meeting in Madrid of the Spanish Members of AFAEMME

Published by P. Horvath, March 31st, 2008, Barcelona (Spain).

The Spanish Members of AFAEMME met last March 11th in Madrid during a meeting held by OMEGA, the National Organization of Businesswomen and Active Management of Spain, to discuss the different activities being done by each organisation.

The meeting was attended by Mrs. Joana Pons, President of ASEME - Balearic Islands; Mrs. Mercedes Delgado, President of the Association of Businesswomen of Valencia; Mrs. Cristina Claveria, President of the Association of Catalan Businesswomen and Executives; Mrs. Inmaculada Alvarez, President of OMEGA and the President of AFAEMME Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen among other representatives of OMEGA.

From left to right: Mrs. Pons (ASEME-Baleares), Mrs. De Felipe (AFAEMME) and Mrs. Alvarez (OMEGA).

Meeting with the International Relations Commission of CEOE in Madrid

Published by P. Horvath, March 31st, 2008, Barcelona (Spain).

On March 11th, 2008 Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe, President of AFAEMME, met Mr. Lacasa, President of the International Relations Commission of CEOE (the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations) and with the members of this Commission Mr. Bocos and Mrs. Rivera, with the purpose of interchanging experiences and future forms of collaboration.

Mr. Bocos, Mr. Lacasa, Mrs. De Felipe and Mrs. Rivera

AFAEMME sets up a Web page on the work opportunities for young women in the ICT sector

During the Closing Conference of the Project “Women and Job Mobility: Obstacles and Solutions for Women in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Sector”, AFAEMME presented a new section of its Web page www.womemobility.org on work opportunities for young women in the ICT sector. The Conference, organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO, took place in Turin, Italy and counted with the presence of Mrs. Nancy Pascall, Gender Policy Officer of the Directorate of Components and Systems of the European Commission, Mrs. Brito-Marie Södenberg, representative of Winnet Europe; Mrs. Paola Mastromarino of the Department of Gender of Telecomitalia Media; Mrs. Giovanna Boschis, representative of APID (Associazione delle Piccole Imprese Donna), Mrs. Clara Collarile, Former General Director of the Office for Intervention in Economic and Social Matters of the Ministry for Equal Opportunities of Italy; Mrs. Marina Larios, representative of Witec and Mrs. Benedetta Magri, Coordinator of the Gender Unit of the ITC-ILO, between other important figures.

In the event, Mrs. Mª Helena de Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME, made a brief presentation of AFAEMME’s role as a European project platform on gender equality and Mrs. Elizabeth Villagómez, AFAEMME’s Gender Expert, explained how to use the new section of the ww.womemobility.org Webpage where one can make inquiries on work opportunities for young women in the ICT sector, on the qualities necessary to develop a career in the ICT sector TIC and on the present situation of the sector in Spain, Italy and Ireland.

Mrs. De Felipe will participate in the first Citizens´ Agora which will take place in the European Parliament

Mrs. De Felipe Lehtonen, President of AFAEMME, has been invited by Mr. Gert - Pöttering, President of the European Parliament to participate in the first Citizens´ Agora which will take place on 8 and 9 November 2007 in the European Parliament in Brussels. Following immediately after Lisbon European Summit, this event, focused on the Future of Europe, is designed as an occasion for civil society to make itself heard.

The activities of this Agora will centre around two plenary sessions and two meetings of five workshops (Tasks-Rights-Tools-Borders-Horizons). All the European public will of course be able to follow all the debates during the Agora live on Parliament´s internet site: www.europarl.europa.eu