Prison network meeting (2 days)

Invitation EPSU Prison Services Network Meeting

25-26 September 2013

Hotel International Bucuresti, Bucharest, Romania


Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to the next meeting of the EPSU prison services network hosted by our Romanian affiliate SNLP.

It will start on Wednesday 25 September at 09h00 and end on Thursday 26 September no later than 15h30, including a visit of a prison in the vicinity of Bucharest.

The agenda will be sent nearer the date of the meeting and include the following:

- Social dialogue including pay bargaining building upon initial results of the SNLP project “itinerariul dialogue” on capacity-building of social dialogue and trade union membership in prisons in Romania. We use this opportunity to remind you to fill in the related project questionnaire https://qtrial.qualtrics.com thanks. The project outcome will include training material that can be relevant to other countries.
- Common demands for training of prison staff ( follow-up to last meeting in Oslo).
- Update on EPSU activities against austerity.
- Prospects for further cooperation in Europe in prison services.

Since our last meeting in Oslo, to note, a summary of the responses (October 2012) to the European Commission’s Green Paper on detention conditions is available in English http://ec.europa.eu. Some 21 governments have responded to this consultation, alongside civil society and trade unions (EPSU and PCS). The summary fails to pick up the impact of the austerity measures on detention and working conditions, employment staffing levels and role of social dialogue. It does, however, mention, the role of good working conditions for prison and probation staff and training of prison staff (in relation to the application of the European prison rules). Overall, in contrast with civil society, there is little support amongst governments for common initiatives at EU level on pre or post-trial detention, other than exchanges of practices.

Hotel and meeting venue

The meeting will take place at the Hotel International Bucuresti 4* (please see map below), 27 Cauzasi Street, 030801 Bucharest district 3. Nearest Subway: Piata Unirii Station (distance 0.8 km). Nearest bus: Mircea Voda Station (distance 0.2km). We refer you to the attached practical information for an area map.

Meeting languages

Interpretation has been requested as follows: English, French, Romanian and Italian.
Should you need another language please let us know as soon as possible as we will see if we can help.

Accommodation:

A pre-booking has been made at the Hotel International Bucuresti (night single room 75 Euro /, breakfast included - double room 85 Euro / night, breakfast included as well as at the same price at Hotel Royal 4* just across the street if required.

EPSU will not cover your accommodation expenses. Our colleagues of SNLP will take care of your hotel reservations if you chose to stay in one of these hotels, but you will need to pay for your stay.

The attached participation form therefore includes a section concerning hotel reservations. Please complete the form and return it to the EPSU secretariat ([email protected]) by Thursday 5 September at the very latest. After this deadline we can no longer guarantee that the rooms will be available at the prices listed above. You will receive a confirmation of your hotel reservation from our Romanian colleagues.

Information concerning transport from the airport can be found in the attached practical information sheet.

Financial assistance

For EPSU members in order of their affiliation obligations from countries under 100% on the ‘5 band’ index, EPSU will refund travel expenses on the basis of one delegate per country up to a maximum of €500. Rules are in appendix.

Meals

EPSU will host a dinner on 25 September and a light lunch on the days of the meeting (25 and 26 September).

Participation form:

Please fill in and return the attached participation form as soon as possible or by Thursday 5 September at the very latest to [email protected].

Please do not forget to complete the section concerning your travel plan, so that we can coordinate your hotel bookings with our Romanian colleagues.

Yours sincerely,

Carola FISCHBACH-PYTTEL

EPSU General Secretary



- Draft agenda


- Outline, EPSU prison services meeting 25-26 September 2013, Bucarest


- EPSU/KY meeting on prison services, Oslo 12-13 April 2012

DRAFT report for adoption on 25-26 September 2013


Participants List - Oslo, 11-13 April 2012


- Invitation letter (EN/FR/DE/ES/SV/RU) and Practical information sheet (EN only)



- Participation form


- Financial assistance rules