The conference offered the ministers responsible for gender equality policy and integration policy the opportunity to discuss progress made and exchange knowledge, experiences, innovative approaches and good practices in gender mainstreaming and gender equality in the field of employment and social policy.

Another area on the agenda was that of human rights within an integration policy, taking into account the full diversity of women’s situations and conditions and recognising that many women face particular barriers to their empowerment.

Mrs Cristina spoke of the relatively new phenomenon that Malta has been experiencing, that of incoming migration. Whereas formerly it was the Maltese who migrated abroad to seek a better life, now it is people from third world countries who are arriving in Malta, penniless and destitute.

Women migrants fall into different categories, with the most vulnerable being the heads of single parent households, followed by the single unaccompanied young women. “Many have the same problems – lack of language skills, lack of financial resources, low level of education, a state of extreme vulnerability in a country with a culture and legislation they are not familiar with, and a deep sense of isolation and loneliness. They are facing challenges of integration, very often having to absorb totally alien ideas and new habits, and to move into a society which is not uniformly inclined towards their smooth and total integration”, Minister Cristina said.

Malta has submitted applications for funds under the European Social Fund and EQUAL project in order to help integration within the labour market, to develop an employment strategy among other things and, very importantly, to promote and develop a non-racist and inter-cultural approach as a major principle in forming integration policy, involving statutory and non-statutory agencies at local and national levels.

The EU Ministers’ meeting was preceded by a one-day conference for experts, policy makers and advisers. Malta was represented

by National Commission for the Promotion of Equality for Men and Women chairman Janet Mifsud.

Following the Rotterdam Conference, Mrs Cristina travelled to Maastricht, where the Employment and Social Affairs Ministers met for their first informal council in the enlarged EU of 25 member states. Minister Cristina represented Malta in one of four working groups. This group analysed issues related to modernising social protection systems, promoting social cohesion and fighting poverty. The minister presented Malta’s position by commenting on three statements set forward by the Presidency prior to the meeting.

Mrs Cristina said that Malta faces an important challenge in the development and delivery of coordinated policies regarding employment of particular target groups, as well as those engaged in the informal sector. “There is a need to understand better the impact of tax, social security contributions and benefits on the uptake and retention of work. Particular attention will be given to reconciling work and private life, encouraging the sharing of family and professional responsibilities and facilitating return to work,” said the Minister, adding that it was essential not to jeopardise the current safety net of the welfare and pension systems, and to continue providing for those who are most in need.

After the workshop discussions, a plenary session analysed the feedback from the working groups. The EU Employment and Social Affairs Ministers agreed that the new European Social Policy agenda has to concentrate on realising the aims formulated in the so-called Lisbon Strategy. The main aims which emerged are to raise the level of knowledge and skills of the working population, to increase participation in the labour market and reinforce social cohesion.

While in Maastricht, the ministers visited a sheltered workplace, called Yonder, which produces high-quality bicycles and other products. The ministers were invited to a first-hand experience on the assembly line.

The Netherlands has several sheltered workplaces which offer disabled people adapted work under conditions which are as normal as possible.