Social Policy in the EU

Latest news about Social Policy in the European Union

Special Eurobarometer survey on health and long-term care — 30 April 2008, 00:04 CET

According to this Eurobarometer report carried out in 2007, most Europeans expect to need long-term care at some point in their lives (with an EU average of 13% seeing this as inevitable, 32% likely and 29% unlikely but possible). However, 86% of Europeans would prefer to be cared for in their own homes or that of a relative should they become dependent, as opposed to only 8% preferring an institution. (pdf format)

Long-term Care in the European Union — 29 April 2008, 23:59 CET

The demands for and costs of long-term care provision in the EU will rise significantly by 2050, according to a new report presented by the European Commission on 28 April 2008. Meanwhile, the vast majority of Europeans (almost nine out of ten) favour home- or community-based care over care in an institutional setting. The projected growth in demand for long-term care services presents a major challenge for national governments. But the report also shows that Member States are striving to guarantee access for all to quality care by providing adequate resources to meet this demand. (pdf format)

All change as Germany's population goes grey — 27 April 2008, 12:25 CET

Germany is Europe's most populous country but it also has the world's third oldest population, creating challenges and opportunities in equal measure in politics, society and the economy.

EU's ageing population transforming the bloc — 27 April 2008, 22:09 CET

As life expectancy grows and birth rates slump across the EU, around one third of the EU's population could be over the age of 65 by 2050, transforming the lives of Europeans.

EU's post-communist states reluctant to make babies — 27 April 2008, 12:28 CET

Keen to secure their careers or uncertain of their future in a still-poor region, Eastern Europe's women are reluctant to have babies, in stark contrast to communist times when high birthrates were a rare success of the system.

EU strategy on the rights of the child - update — 10 April 2008, 12:58 CET

News, background information and web links about employment and social affairs policies of the European Union.

McCanns call for Europe-wide missing children alert system — 10 April 2008, 16:27 CET

The parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann on Thursday called for a Europe-wide alert system for abducted children.

EU commitment to the Millennium Development Goals - milestones — 04 April 2008, 11:32 CET

News, background information and web links about employment and social affairs policies of the European Union.

British inventor of teen-repellent device wants laws regulating it — 03 April 2008, 00:16 CET

The British inventor of a controversial device which disperses young people by emitting a high-pitched noise which only they can hear called Wednesday for legislation to regulate its use.

Integrating sex and gender differences in health research — 02 April 2008, 16:20 CET

The EU-funded project GenderBasic has developed a number of recommendations for the improved integration of sex and gender differences in health-related research.

Same sex couples entitled to partner's pension: EU court — 01 April 2008, 19:40 CET

The EU's highest court has ruled that the surviving partner in a registered same sex couple may be entitled to a deceased partner's pension.

Wallstroem laments lack of women named for top EU jobs — 07 March 2008, 17:47 CET

Only men's names have been put forward for top positions being created in the European Union, Commission Vice President Margot Wallstroem lamented on Friday, the eve of International Women's Day.

EU rights body picks Dane as director — 08 March 2008, 01:04 CET

The European Union's Fundamental Rights Agency has selected Denmark's Morten Kjaerum as its new director, it announced in a statement Friday in Vienna.

World parliaments still have glass ceiling for women: EU study — 06 March 2008, 19:23 CET

Women's access to positions of power remain limited worldwide, according to a European study released Thursday which argued that only active policies to redress the problem could bring a swift improvement.

Rice joins women's conference in Brussels — 06 March 2008, 18:40 CET

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was among the high-level participants at a conference Thursday on women's role in world affairs, though the EU organiser complained that others had chosen to stay away.

Gender mainstreaming of employment policies in practice — 06 March 2008, 13:35 CET

The European Commission just published an expert report analysing gender mainstreaming in practice in the field of employment policies. The report also presents concrete examples of gender mainstreaming implemented over the last few years in 30 European countries.

Women and men in decision-making — 06 March 2008, 13:24 CET

This website on women and men in decision-making gives an insight into the relative numbers of women and men participating in the decision-making process and taking up leadership positions in the European Institutions, the 27 Member States of the European Union, the EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), and two of the EU candidate countries (Croatia and Turkey). The website contains data and indicators that cover decision-making in political, public and juridical and social and economic domains both on European and national level. For the political domain only, decision-making at regional level is also covered.

A third of Romanians without running water: minister — 27 February 2008, 17:05 CET

A third of Romanians have no access to running water or sewers, Environment Minister Attila Korodi said Wednesday, calling for heavy investment to bring the country in line with the rest of the European Union.

Europe pays heavy price for heart disease: study — 28 February 2008, 14:02 CET

Heart disease in Europe claims over two million lives every year, and cost the European Union EUR 192 billion in 2006, a group of health organisations said on Tuesday.

Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008 — 26 February 2008, 11:20 CET

News, background information and web links about employment and social affairs policies of the European Union.

EU study to help improve care for people with disabilities — 29 January 2008, 23:31 CET

Institutional care for disabled people in Europe continues to fall short of acceptable standards in many cases, a new report released by the European Commission confirms. The study, entitled 'Deinstitutionalisation and Community Living – Outcomes and Costs', recommends a wider use of quality, community-based services, which offer better quality of life to people with disabilities, without necessarily costing more.

Sweden blocks EU plans to stop court 'shopping' for divorces — 26 January 2008, 16:35 CET

Sweden blocked Saturday European Union plans to stop divorcing couples from fighting over which EU court to legally settle their separation in.

Supplementary pension schemes and mobility in Europe: studies — 24 January 2008, 18:55 CET

Latest news, background information and web links about the employment policies of the European Union.

Portability of pensions — 18 January 2008, 12:40 CET

Changing job or country often means losing occupational pension benefits in some EU Member States. The difficulty of transferring these benefits from one country to another can be such that it has been identified by experts as a serious obstacle to the free movement of workers within the EU. Under the 'portability of pensions' Directive, proposed by the European Commission in October 2005, workers switching jobs or countries will no longer need to worry for the future. Designed to avoid major losses and in many cases allowing benefits to transfer with the worker across sectors and countries in the EU, the proposal is expected to boost the Commission's 'Growth and Jobs' strategy by making it easier for workers to move jobs and countries.

Nine Canadians charged in global child porn probe — 15 January 2008, 19:15 CET

Nine Canadians have been charged in an ongoing global child sex abuse investigation prompted by the discovery of a 2006 video depicting sisters being raped by their father, police said Tuesday.