24. Deplores the fact that women and girls are the most affected by extreme poverty, while it is factually proven that investment in women and girls and empowering them through education is one of the most efficient ways of combating poverty; stresses the need to do more to secure the right to education and access thereto, especially for girls, and that action must be taken to prevent them from being forced to abandon their studies, as they often are when they marry and have children; stresses the need for action to include women and girls in investment and growth processes in third countries; maintains that it is essential to continue counteracting the gender pay gap; notes that European companies operating in third countries have a vi ...[+++]tal role to play in promoting gender equality in those countries, since they act as role models; encourages women to become actively involved in trade unions and other organisations, as this will do much to introduce gender aspects into labour relations and working conditions;

36. Calls on the Commission to carry out a detailed study of the social and economic consequences of the economic and financial crisis, and the adjustment programmes carried out in response to it in the four countries, in order to provide a precise understanding of both the short-term and long-term effects on employment and social protection systems, and on the European social acquis, with particular regard to the fight against poverty, the maintenance of good social dialogue and the balance between flexibility and security in labour relations; calls on the Commission to use its consultative bodies ...[+++] when drafting this study, as well as the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee; suggests that the EESC be asked to draft a specific report;

36. Calls on the Commission to carry out a detailed study of the social and economic consequences of the economic and financial crisis, and the adjustment programmes carried out in response to it in the four countries, in order to provide a precise understanding of both the short-term and long-term effects on employment and social protection systems, and on the European social acquis, with particular regard to the fight against poverty, the maintenance of good social dialogue and the balance between flexibility and security in labour relations; calls on the Commission to use its consultative bodies ...[+++] when drafting this study, as well as the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee; suggests that the EESC be asked to draft a specific report;

First, as members know, one of the main sectors of activity of the Labour Program is labour-management relations.

1. The Advisory Committee on Vocational Training (hereinafter called the Committee) shall consist of three members for each Member State, there being one representative for each interest group of national governments, trade unions and employers' organisations.

Finally, to make it possible for us to provide better guidance and if necessary to refocus particular studies in accordance with political developments on science, I think that it would be desirable for a monitoring committee to be set up that is in contact with Parliament, so that we would be kept abreast of its activities on a more regular basis, which would allow us to build on the fruitful exchanges we have had so far.