18/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - Preserving social dialogue. During times of budgetary austerity, local authorities and trade unions must work together to safeguard social dialogue. Cooperation must be strengthened with employers in the public administration sector of the local authorities. That is the approach being promoted by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) and the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), further to a proposal conducted in common. Begun in January, the project entitled “Future of the workplace: providing quality jobs, modern and sustainable workplaces in local and regional government” came to an end in Prague on 15 October 2012. The project also placed emphasis on the employment of young people and seniors, on gender equality and on non-discrimination towards migrant workers. (MD/transl.jl)