Articles about:
Social Europe
In January 2020, the European Commission launched a formal consultation of social partners in view of proposing an EU “framework” ensuring “fair minimum wages” across the EU. The proposal instantly triggered vivid protest, notably from Scandinavian unions. While no one can underestimate the difficulties involved the conception of a legitimate and...
The new European Commission can open up opportunities for progressive forces to regain influence in the European direction. Over the Commission’s five-year mandate, Europe will be confronted with new global trends, and bold and progressive leadership will be needed. The focus of this European Commission is fundamentally different from that...
It is somewhat ironic that a European Commission headed by a former Social Affairs minister (Ursula von der Leyen) was almost inaugurated without the word ‘social’ appearing in the title of either commissioner. This would have been a great shame, especially at a time when the progressive family is represented...
The German sociologist Wolfgang Engler examines the question what happened to (Eastern) Germany in the past three decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall from the inside. In his last book – together with the journalist and writer Jana Hensel – “Wer wir sind. Die Erfahrung, ostdeutsch zu sein”...
For almost two decades EU institutions have paid lip-service to capacitating welfare provision. With the new legislature, it’s time to ratchet up domestic social investment. A ‘golden rule’ of exempting certain types of social spending from the Eurozone fiscal rule book for about a decade would allow to invest in...
The crisis and the paradoxical response of austerity, imposed on the most affected countries, has interrupted a process of economic and social convergence that had barely begun to overcome strong asymmetries. In Europe, the gap has widened between the so-called “virtuous” countries, which despite the crisis still have room for...
The Financial crisis has left EU Member States in dire straits because of the falling tax revenues and the impact of austerity measures in many countries. As a consequence, public investment in social infrastructure has reached a 20-year low. Turning this around however could be the catalyst for the creation...
The European project can only have a future if it overcomes the status quo imposed by conservatives and neo-liberals and if it refuses to fall into the trap proposed by national-populists. Regaining control over our lives in a time of globalisation is only possible if we address social, fiscal and...
In a world with so much wealth, how is it possible that so many people have little or no access to healthcare? Or that different socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, or nationalities, mean poorer health for some? As a doctor, Social Democrat and Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, I find this...
The staggering blow of the rise of the right and extreme right is hard to integrate. What are the challenges to be overcome so progressives can regain ground? How do we stem the nationalist wave? Laurent Berger, the new president of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), comments on the...