EU Infopoint Newsletter December Issue 42

EU Infopoint Newsletter December 2018 Issue:42

View this email in your browser

State of the European Union, 2019 Priorities and Beyond

"State of the European Union, 2019 Priorities and Beyond" event took place on 13 December in Nicosia. At the event, Mr. Ierotheos Papadopoulos, Head of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus, made a presentation on the current situation in the European Union, future prospects, the Sibiu Summit and an evaluation of the priorities for 2019. After the presentation, participants had an opportunity to raise questions and make comments.

During his presentation, Mr. Papadopoulos mentioned that the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, emphasised the sovergnity of Europe in his State of the Union presentation this year along with the priority issues for Europe, such as the ability of Europe to play a role in the organisation of global relations as a unity, strengthening states, a common approach to common problems, and taking more responsibility in world affairs. The presentation also included recommendations on migration, cyber security and foreign policy issues in 2019.

Mr. Papadopoulos also said EU Leaders will meet in Sibiu, Romania, six weeks after BREXIT and two weeks before the European Parliament elections, in order to set a new Strategic Agenda to guide the work of the European Union in the next five years.

Please follow the links to check out the factsheets about the European Sovereignity and Potential Initiatives for Delivery by the Sibiu Summit:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/soteu2018-factsheet-sovereignty_en.pdf

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/soteu2018-factsheet-sibiu-delivery_en.pdf

Human Rights Film Screenings at High Schools

The European Commission is supporting a series of film screening events as part of International Human Rights Day (10 December) targeting grade 9 students from eight schools in the Turkish Cypriot community. The film screenings, organised in partnership with the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation, started with Lefkoşa Türk Lisesi and Lefkoşa Anadolu Güzel Sanatlar Lisesi on 12 December with the participation of 250 students in 2 sessions. After the opening speech by Ms. Pelin Maneoğlu, 3 short films including, Alike, Girl with 672K and, Betka and the Clever Ones were screened. The second film screening event took place at Lapithos/Lapta Yavuzlar Lisesi on 17 December with the participation of 120 students. The first round of the film screenings will continue in 5 other schools in January, including 19 Mayıs TMK, Geçitkale Cumhuriyet Lisesi, 20 Temmuz Fen Lisesi, Güzelyurt TMK and Erenköy Lisesi.

The aim of the film screenings is to raise awareness on the importance of social, economic and cultural rights of individuals, and on the approach in the EU regarding basic human rights. Around 700 students will be participating in the first round of the screenings. After the screenings, Deniz Düzgün, Özge Ugraşın and Yetin Arslan from the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation briefly present the topic of human rights and facilitate a discussion with the students regarding their own views and how the films tackled the topic of human rights.

The EU Aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community funded a number of projects in support of diversity and the protection of human rights. Some of these projects include “Education for a Culture of Peace” implemented by POST RI in partnership with the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research; “Human Rights for All” implemented by Refugee Rights Association with KISA; and “Youthopia – Empowering Youth to Protect and Promote Human Rights” implemented by MAGEM and Youth Power.

Occupational Health and Safety Trainings at Vocational Schools

The European Commission is supporting a series of occupational health and safety trainings at 12 vocational schools in the Turkish Cypriot community for the third consecutive year. The trainings started on 19 December at the Apprenticeship School of the Chamber of Turkish Cypriot Shopkeepers and Artisans (KTEZO) with the participation of 70 students and continued at Lefkoşa Sedat Simavi Endüstri Meslek Lisesi on 25 December (130 students) and at Trikomo/İskele Ticaret Lisesi on 26 December (35 students). The training series will continue until March 2019 in 9 other schools.

Approximately 800 final year students will be participating in these trainings which will cover various topics such as why health and safety is important in workplaces, how health and safety at work could be achieved with specific examples on different workplaces, health and safety rules, implementation examples from various EU countries, and showcasing why the EU is one of the safest places to work. The trainings will be targeted considering the education and skills of the students and each participating student will be given a certificate. At the end of the training series, all the participating students are invited to participate in a quiz competition. Three lucky students answering all the questions correctly will be awarded personal health and safety kits. The aim of the trainings is to prepare students with knowledge about health and safety and to equip them with skills to identify workplace risks and prevent accidents as they prepare to enter the workforce.

In 2017, a total of 621 final year students took part in the training which was conducted at all 12 Vocational Schools and the Apprenticeship School at the Chamber of Turkish Cypriot Shopkeepers and Artisans and in 2016, a total of 870 students took part in the trainings.
Health and safety at work is one of the areas where the EU has had the biggest impact – with a solid legal framework covering the maximum number of risks with the minimum number of regulations. The Commission also works with the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions to disseminate information, offer guidance and promote healthy working environments.

Traffic Safety Trainings

The European Commission supported a series of traffic safety trainings in Agios Amvrosios/Esentepe at Esentepe Middle School on 4 December, in Rizokarpasso/Dipkarpaz at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Middle School on 11 December, and in Famagusta/Mağusa at Çanakkale Middle School on 18 and 20 December. The aim of the trainings, which were organised in partnership with TRAKAYAD, was to raise awareness on the importance of traffic safety and the impact of traffic users’ behaviour on traffic crashes. Since the beginning of 2018, a total of 1.800 students from 14 schools participated in the trainings and learned about how to be safe in traffic, what actions are being taken by the EU to reduce traffic crashes in Europe as well as EU's policy to halve the number of fatalities between 2010 and 2020.

For more information, please follow the link.

The "Protect the Environment" training, organised in cooperation with the EU-funded Capacity Building in the Solid Waste, Wastewater Sector Project, took place at Ağırdağ-Dağyolu Primary School on 24 December with the participation of 35 students. The training aimed to raise awareness on environmental protection. The interactive trainings included a short video on marine waste and a lively Q&A session with the participants. All students received a brochure about waste management and recycling.
Please follow the link to check out the brochure.

Upcoming Events and Themes

JANUARY

International Human Rights Day
Short Film Screenings for Local High School Students

Traffic Safety Trainings
Quiz Award Ceremony

Occupational Health & Safety Trainings

FEBRUARY

Green Energy Training

Occupational Health & Safety Trainings

European Music Nights
Cyprus Chamber Orchestra Concert

MARCH

SME's & The Circular Economy

International Women's Day

European Week Against Racism

Follow our Facebook page for up to date information!

The EU Infopoint aims to increase public knowledge, awareness and understanding of the European Union, its values, policies and programmes as well as the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community. The EU Infopoint is a project funded by the European Union under the Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community with the aim to bring the Turkish Cypriot community closer to the EU.

Any Questions? Ask Us!

Like Us!

Visit Us!