U.S. — EU Working Group
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The opening session of the 7th US-EU OSH Conference. Shown from left to right: Armindo Silva, Director for Employment, Social Legislation and Social Dialogue, EC; David Michaels, Assistant Secretary, OSHA; Leandros Nicolaides, Director, Department of Labor Inspection, Cyprus (representing the EU Presidency); William Kennard, US Ambassador to the EU; and Koos Richelle, Director General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, EC. |
The U.S. — EU Working Group on Employment and Labor-Related Issues was established in 1996 via a Memorandum of Understanding (PDF) signed by Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and his European Commission counterpart. Over the years the Working Group has sponsored meetings, workshops and conferences that draw expertise from governments, trade unions, businesses, academia, and other organizations.
Upcoming Events
Spring 2013: Follow-up Webinars to U.S. — EU Roundtable Exchange on Evaluation Strategies and Methodologies (Dates and topics TBD).
Recent Events
July 11-13, 2012: The 7th Joint U.S. — EU Conference on Occupational Safety and Health — Brussels, Belgium.
The theme of this event was “Critical Issues on Worker Health and Safety.” The conference focused on four main topics: 1) Nanotechnology in the Workplace; 2) Occupational Exposure Limits for Chemical Substances; 3) Occupational Safety and Health in a Green Economy; and 4) Prevention of Catastrophic Accidents. In addition, there was a government-to-government Special Session on Occupational Safety and Health Statistics. The working groups on the four main topics produced a wide range of recommendations for possible future action and cooperation. The participants in the special session agreed to undertake a joint project focused on comparing work-related fatality data. The conference also provided a forum to highlight collaboration on the launch of the first dedicated global wiki on occupational safety and health, which is slated to take place in 2013.
June 4, 2012: U.S. — EU Roundtable Exchange on Evaluation Strategies and Methodologies — Washington, D.C.
U.S. and European officials exchanged information on promising evaluation strategies and methodologies that can help improve the effectiveness of labor market programs and policies. The participants discussed both the challenges and solutions developed to execute high quality, effective, and rigorous evaluations that can improve program performance. Specific topics discussed included impact evaluations; random assignment studies; impact assessments; effective implementation of evaluations; and dissemination and utilization of research findings.
March 21, 2012: Anniversary Paper from the 2011 U.S. — Canada — European Commission Trilateral Roundtable: The Employment Dimension of the Transition to a Green Economy released — Washington, DC
In 2011, the United States, Canada and European Commission held a trilateral roundtable, entitled "The Employment Dimension of the Transition to a Green Economy," which brought together experts representing governments, trade unions, industry, and non-governmental organizations. Discussions focused on defining and measuring green jobs, establishing effective green jobs partnerships, designing green skills development and training, ensuring green jobs serve as a pathway out of poverty, and examining the quality of green jobs, as well as the sustainability of green jobs investments by governments. As a follow-up to the Roundtable, each participant has shared two updates on promising practices or strategies, which were first explored at the Roundtable.
February 2, 2012: Bilateral Meeting of Secretary Solis and European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Lazlo Andor — Washington, DC
Secretary Solis and Commissioner Andor met on February 2 and discussed priority employment initiatives in the United States and the European Union (EU), the G20 Labor and Employment Task Force on Youth Employment, and the European Commission's activities with DOL through the U.S. – EU Working Group on Labor and Employment Issues.
Resources
Learn more about the Working Group and previously-sponsored events (DOC)
Questions?
J. William Brumfield
(202) 693-4791
brumfield.william@dol.gov
