The Sacred Heart College Ganshoren is a Catholic school for primary education, secondary education and adult education in Ganshoren (Belgium), near the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

The Sacred Heart College Ganshoren is a Catholic school for primary education, secondary education and adult education in Ganshoren (Belgium), near the Basilica of the Sacred Heart., a photo by infomatique on Flickr.

Het Heilig-Hartcollege Ganshoren is een katholieke school voor lager onderwijs, middelbaar onderwijs en volwassenenonderwijs in Ganshoren (België), vlak bij de Nationale Basiliek van het Heilig Hart. Het onderwijs in deze school wordt verzorgd door de vzw Sint-Goedele, die ook de inrichtende macht is van het nabijgelegen Sint-Pieterscollege in Jette. Dit college geeft TSO (handel) en BSO (kantooradministratie en gegevensbeheer) en telt circa 240 leerlingen.

Samen met veertien andere Brusselse katholieke scholen behoort ze tot de Scholengemeenschap voor Katholiek Secundair Onderwijs Sint-Gorik.

Het Heilig-Hartcollege bood jarenlang ASO aan met de richtingen economie-moderne talen, economie-wiskunde, moderne talen-wetenschappen en wetenschappen-wiskunde. Omdat het leerlingenaantal achteruit ging, werd enkele jaren geleden het aanbod uitgebreid met de technische en beroepsafdelingen kantoor en handel. In 2005 stopte de school volledig met het aanbieden van ASO-onderwijs. Op datzelfde ogenblik werd het Sint-Pieterscollege een school met enkel een ASO aanbod.

In februari 2007 besloot de inrichtende de school te sluiten omdat ze machteloos stond tegenover het groeiende aantal probleemjongeren in de school.

In het schooljaar 2007-2008 zal het Heilig Hart alleen nog het tweede, vierde en zesde jaar inrichten. De school is daartoe verplicht omdat volgens een Vlaams decreet de leerlingen een hele graad in dezelfde school moeten kunnen volgen. Op 30 juni 2008 gaat de school helemaal dicht. De basisschool en het volwassenenonderwijs zullen wel blijven bestaan.

Brussels: Street Art

Brussels, a photo by infomatique on Flickr.

Street Art In Brussels

Brussels

Brussels, a photo by infomatique on Flickr.

Election Campaign In Brussels: May 2010

Brussels

Brussels, a photo by infomatique on Flickr.

Brussels, officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region[, is the de facto capital city of the European Union (EU) and the largest urban area in Belgium. It comprises 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels proper, which is the constitutional capital of Belgium, the French Community of Belgium, as well as Flanders and the Flemish Community.

Since the end of the Second World War, Brussels has been a main centre for international politics. Its hosting of principal EU institutions as well as the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has made the city a polyglot home of numerous international organisations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants.

Although historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels became increasingly French-speaking over the 19th and 20th centuries. Today a majority of inhabitants are native French-speakers, although both languages have official status. Linguistic tensions remain, and the language laws of the municipalities surrounding Brussels are an issue of much controversy in Belgium.

Tourists from all over the world are attracted to Belgium

Belgium fires one's imagination. Tourists from all over the world are attracted to Belgium and its cosmopolitan capital, Brussels. It is no surprise then, that Belgium has a lot to offer the foreign tourist. Belgium means holidays in many forms. You will be able to briefly escape the daily grind, with a weekend in a Belgian city, but you can also plan a true voyage of discovery throughout Belgium.

Two of the big tourist attractions in Belgium are the Ardennes and the coast. Do you like hiking, cycling, sport, nature and tranquillity? Then you will undoubtedly want to go to the Ardennes, Belgium's lungs. Are you more likely to be tempted by sun, sea, sport and enjoyable bustle? Then there is the lure of the Coast.

Those with a craving for art and culture or architectural beauty, will be pampered in our cities of art. Those who would like a taste of our gastronomy, cultural events and nightlife, will have their every wish satisfied. As a result, the many cities of art - with Brussels at the top - are able to depend on an ever-increasing interest from tourists.

Belgium plays an important role in the gastronomic life of Western Europe. The Belgians are well known for their exuberant lifestyle and they take pleasure in their guests enjoying themselves. The restaurants are outstanding, and what is more agreeable to finish a beautiful day, than the enjoyment of a Flemish meat casserole with a Trappist beer from the Ardennes?

The Belgian coast

The coast's 65 kilometre long stretch of sandy coastline has 15 resorts, each with its own character and unique atmosphere. The sandy beaches are ideal for children. The beaches shelve gently out to sea, and life guards ensure everyone's safety. Sunbathers have found that they acquire a healthier tan here than in southern Europe, thanks to the iodine and salt in the air. The Belgian coast offers a wide range of sport and recreation facilities : here you can hire a bicycle or a buggy, or go sailing or fishing. The wide beach is ideal for ball games, horse riding and beach surfing. The summer months are the busiest period for the coast. However, other seasons have their own charm, even if sunbathing is not part of it. There are plenty of alternatives on the coast. Close by, there is Bruges, one of Belgium's finest cities of art. A visit to this historic city is a must.

The Ardennes

The Ardennes, situated in the south-east of Belgium, are one of nature's unspoilt areas, rich in fauna and flora, with vast forests of broadleaf and fir, hills and fast flowing rivers. Visitors can wander through the many picturesque villages nestling in the valleys where traditions and folklore still live on, and where the region's arts and crafts can be enjoyed.

Springtime in the Ardennes is the season for walking, cycling, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Horse riding, climbing and mountain biking are other examples of popular sports in the Ardennes. The keen mountaineer has an exciting choice of challenges. In Winter, the Ardennes are a fun paradise for downhill and cross country skiers, or perhaps you prefer tobogganing and snow scooter racing. There is action, even underground. Some of the caves are certainly worth a visit.

Amongst the greenery lie the silent witnesses of the past of the Ardennes, such as castles, forts and citadels. They come to life again during special events and displays where knights and their shield bearers turn the neighbourhood into a battlefield.

There are accommodation facilities to fit every budget. There is a choice of holiday cottages, shared accommodation, chalets and 'bed-and-breakfast' accommodation. Alternatively, why not spend the night in a beautifully stored castle?

  

State aid: Commission adopts new Broadband Guidelines

State aid: Commission adopts new Broadband Guidelines

The European Commission has adopted revised guidelines for the application of EU state aid rules to the broadband sector. These guidelines will help Member States achieve the objectives of the EU Digital Agenda. Taking into account the extensive submissions from all stakeholders, they contain in particular a reinforcement of open access obligations and improved transparency rules. They also follow the principles of the Commission's State Aid Modernisation (SAM) initiative, which aims at facilitating well-designed aid targeted at market failures in order to achieve growth-enhancing priorities, while simplifying the rules to allow for faster decisions.

Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia said: "To achieve the ambitious goals of the Digital Agenda in promoting very fast broadband connections throughout the EU, we need to achieve the right mix between public and private investment while building a pro-competitive environment. These new rules will allow for well-designed public interventions targeted at market failures and ensure open access to state funded infrastructure".

The changes are based on a two-staged public consultation and an intensive dialogue with all stakeholders (Member States, national telecoms regulators, aid granting authorities, telecommunications operators, business associations, consumer associations and citizens).

These changes focus on the following principles and priorities:

• Technological neutrality: the new guidelines take into account technological advances, acknowledging that super-fast (Next Generation Access) networks can be based on different technological platforms.
• Ultra-fast broadband networks: to help achieve the Digital Agenda objective of delivering very fast connections (of more than 100 Mbps) to half of European households by 2020, the revised guidelines will allow public funding also in urban areas but subject to very strict conditions to ensure a pro-competitive outcome.
• Step change to connectivity: to protect private investors, the guidelines require that any public investment must fulfil a so-called "step change": publicly financed infrastructure can only be allowed if it provides a substantial improvement over existing networks and not only a marginal improvement in citizens' connectivity.
• Reinforcement of open access: when a network is realised with taxpayers' money, it is fair that the consumers benefit from a truly open network where competition is ensured.
• Transparency: new provisions regarding the publication of documents, a centralised data base for existing infrastructure and ex post reporting obligations to the Commission have been introduced.

Background

Better, faster broadband is the top priority in 2013-14 of the revised Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) (IP/12/1389) is a flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 Strategy aimed at fostering economic growth. The Digital Agenda sets ambitious objectives for broadband infrastructure development, namely to bring basic broadband to all Europeans by 2013 and ensure that, by 2020, (i) all Europeans have access to much higher internet speeds of above 30 Mbps and (ii) 50% or more of European households subscribe to internet connections above 100 Mbps.

Public authorities may fund such investments in line with the EU state aid rules. To facilitate pro-competitive investments, the Commission adopted the first broadband guidelines in 2009 (see IP/09/1332 and MEMO/09/396).

To adapt the guidelines to fast moving technology markets and to the objectives of its Digital Agenda (see IP/10/581 and MEMO/10/199) and State Aid Modernisation initiative (see IP/12/458), a review process was launched in 2011, with a first public consultation (see IP/11/493). After assessing the submissions, the Commission drafted revised guidelines and consulted stakeholders again in June 2012 (see IP/12/550). In light of comments received, the Commission has now finalised the new guidelines, which will enter into force from the first day following its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The Commission may review the new guidelines on the basis of future important market, technological and regulatory developments.

The formal adoption and publication of the new guidelines in the Official Journal in all EU official languages is foreseen for January 2013. For information purposes, the full text of the guidelines is available in the working languages of the EU institutions at:http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/legislation/specific_rules.html#broadband

European Globalisation Fund pays €25.3 million to help redundant workers in France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden

European Globalisation Fund pays €25.3 million to help redundant workers in France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden

The European Commission has just made payments to France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden from the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF). The total amount of €25.3 million will help 4722 workers in those countries back into employment, following their dismissals in a wide variety of sectors including aluminium, broadband services, metal products, construction, car manufacture and the pharmaceutical industry.

European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor said "This is the result of the proposals made by the Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council of Ministers following applications for funding from the EGF by the authorities of these countries. Council and Parliament have approved the proposals leading to the release of the funds". He added "The EGF is an effective tool in supporting workers laid off as a result of changing world trade patterns. It has also proven its worth in cases of lay-offs resulting from the economic crisis. The Commission calls on the Member States to ensure that the EGF continues to be available for the next programming period 2014-2020".

The break-down of the total €25.3 million is as follows:

• €11.9 million will help 2089 former workers of PSA Peugeot-Citroën in France. The redundancies are a consequence of the financial and economic crisis which resulted in a substantial decrease in demand for new motor vehicles in the second half of 2008, especially in Western Europe.
• €4.3 million will help 700 former workers of the pharmaceutical enterprise AstraZeneca in Sweden. The dismissals are linked to major structural changes in world trade patterns due to globalisation. Many non-European countries are designing strategies for biosciences and industry in areas of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical technology. European companies have had to adapt their production to this situation. AstraZeneca followed the trend and adopted a new R&D strategy in 2010. This included the necessity to focus on fewer disease areas, closures of sites and significantly greater utilisation of external resources through outsourcing.
• €2.8 million will help 435 dismissed workers from 54 Dutch enterprises operating in the construction sector. The redundancies are a consequence of the financial and economic crisis. The construction sector in the Netherlands as well as in the entire European Union has been severely affected by the crisis. Loans to the construction sector and to individuals have been drastically reduced, prices of the construction materials increased while the demand for new houses decreased due to declining consumer confidence and the lack of cash. Moreover the economic and financial crisis resulted in reduction of public expenditure which had a direct negative impact on investments in infrastructure and housing programmes.
• €2.6 million will help 432 former workers of Talk Talk, a broadband services provider, in Ireland. The redundancies were a direct result of the company’s decision to consolidate activities with three chosen outsourcers. In 2011, the company adopted strategic alliances with three non-EU providers. As a result a significant bulk of work has been transferred to these third country providers.
• €2 million will help 450 dismissed workers from 35 Spanish manufacturers of fabricated metal products for shipbuilders. Order books of European shipyards decreased dramatically since 2008. As a consequence the workforce in shipbuilding and its ancillary industries in Europe declined.
• €1.4 million will help 616 former workers of the aluminium manufacturer Zalco Aluminium Zeeland Company NV in The Netherlands. The dismissals were a consequence of the financial and economic crisis which resulted in a substantial decrease in demand for aluminium products.

Background

There have been 102 applications to the EGF since the start of its operations in 2007. Some €438.4 million has been requested to help about 91000 workers. EGF applications are being presented to help redundant workers in a growing number of sectors, and by an increasing number of Member States.

More open trade with the rest of the world leads to overall benefits for growth and employment, but it can also cost some jobs, particularly in vulnerable sectors and affecting lower-skilled workers. This is why Commission President Barroso first proposed setting up a fund to help those adjusting to the consequences of globalisation. The EGF was established at the end of 2006 and was designed to demonstrate solidarity from the many who benefit from openness to the few who face the sudden shock of losing their jobs. In June 2009, the EGF rules were revised to strengthen the role of the EGF as an early intervention instrument forming part of Europe's response to the financial and economic crisis. The revised EGF Regulation entered into force on 2 July 2009 and applied to all applications received from 1 May 2009 to 31 December 2011. In the absence of an agreement in the Council, the EGF's crisis response function could not be prolonged beyond 2011.

Building on the experience acquired with the EGF since 2007 and its value added for the assisted workers and affected regions, the Commission has proposed to maintain the Fund also during the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework, while further improving its functioning. This includes covering lay-offs resulting from the economic crisis as well as new categories of workers such as temporary and self-employed workers. The proposal is currently under discussion at Council and Parliament.

For more information about the Commission's proposals related to those cases, including details about the proposed measures to help the dismissed workers, see also: IP/12/785 regarding the Dutch construction enterprises; IP/12/786 regarding the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca; IP/12/861 regarding Talk Talk broadband services, IP/12/892 regarding the aluminium manufacturer Zalco; IP/12/893 regarding the Spanish manufacturers of fabricated metal products for shipbuilders and IP/12/907 concerning PSA Peugeot-Citroën in France.