Social Policy in the EU

Latest news about Social Policy in the European Union.

Technological change, globalisation and an ageing population are transforming Europe's societies. EU policies aim to keep pace with these trends, and help people adapt to changing circumstances. The renewed social agenda is aimed at creating more opportunities for EU citizens, improving access to quality services and demonstrating solidarity with those who are affected negatively by change.

FACT SHEETS

General Information

• PROGRESS 2007-2013
• The European Observatory on the Social Situation and Demography

Funding

• European Social Fund (ESF)
• ESF Activities: Businesses undergoing change

Supporting Business

• A European Private Company Statute

EU Social Policy Contacts

LATEST NEWS

EU urges governments to tighten breast implant controls — 09 February 2012, 22:27 CET

The European Commission urged governments on Thursday to tighten controls of medical devices after faulty French-made breast implants sparked a global health scare.

European Foundation — 08 February 2012, 22:35 CET

The European Commission has presented a proposal for a European Foundation Statute in order to facilitate the cross-border activities of public benefit purpose foundations and make it easier for them to support public benefit causes across the EU.

Proposal for a Regulation on the Statute for a European Foundation - guide — 08 February 2012, 22:49 CET

The European Commission has presented a proposal for a European Foundation Statute to make it easier for foundations to support public benefit causes across the EU.

Belgian unions call general strike for EU summit date — 17 January 2012, 18:45 CET

Belgian trade unions on Tuesday called a general strike for January 30, the date of a summit of European Union leaders in the capital Brussels.

Aga Khan fights 60 mn euro divorce settlement: source — 12 January 2012, 14:12 CET

Racehorse billionaire and Islamic spiritual leader the Aga Khan is contesting a divorce settlement that awarded his ex-wife a record 60 million euros ($77 million), a French judicial source said Thursday.

Latvian MPs nix Russian language, paving way to plebiscite — 22 December 2011, 17:01 CET

Lawmakers in European Union member Latvia rejected a motion Thursday to enshrine Russian as the second official state language after Latvian in the ex-Soviet Baltic state's constitution.

EU concerned over Israel's Arab minority: Haaretz — 16 December 2011, 15:59 CET

EU ambassadors in Israel are concerned over Israel's treatment of its Arab minority and about poor prospects for relaunching peace talks with the Palestinians, according to a working paper disclosed by daily newspaper Haaretz on Friday.

European Social Entrepreneurship Funds - guide — 07 December 2011, 19:21 CET

Social businesses are companies that have a positive social impact and address social objectives as their corporate aim rather than only maximising profit. It is a growing sector in Europe, already representing 10% of all European businesses and employing over 11 million paid employees. While these businesses often receive public support, private investment via funds that invest in social entrepreneurs remains vital to their growth. However, such specialised social investment funds are rare or are not large enough. Cross-border investment in such funds is unnecessarily complicated and expensive. With today's proposal for a Regulation, the Commission lays the foundations for a strong European market for social investment funds. It introduces a new "European Social Entrepreneurship Funds" label so investors can easily identify funds that focus on investing in European social businesses. The approach is simple: once the requirements defined in the proposal are met, managers of social investment funds will be able to market their funds across the whole of Europe. To get the label, a fund will have to prove that a high percentage of investments (70% of the capital received from investors) is spent in supporting social business. Uniform rules on disclosure will ensure that investors get clear and effective information on these investments.

Top Greek pension fund seeks EUR 3bn loan: director — 05 December 2011, 19:43 CET

Greece's leading social security fund IKA needs three billion euros ($4 billion) in loans to plug a 200-million-euro deficit in 2011 and manage pension payments in the next two years, its director said Monday.

Rebels advance in big-bucks battle with EU 'technocrats' — 20 November 2011, 11:38 CET

Poorer European nations say they are winning the battle against Brussels technocrats for control of hundreds of billions of euros in vital EU grants due to be paid out in the next decade.

Poll finds French not so chauvinistic after all — 18 November 2011, 11:22 CET

France's reputation for chauvinism took a hit Thursday from an opinion poll that revealed that only 27 per cent of its people think French culture is better than all others.

Consultation on the right to family reunification of third-country nationals living in the EU - guide — 17 November 2011, 23:25 CET

The European Commission has launched a public debate on the right to family reunification of third-country nationals living in the EU. Depending on the outcome of the consultation, the Commission will decide whether any policy follow-up is necessary – such as setting up clear guidelines, modifying the current rules or leaving the legislation as it is.

Corporate Social Responsibility: new definition, new agenda for action - guide — 26 October 2011, 18:08 CET

The European Commission's new strategy on corporate social responsibility (CSR), part of a package of measures on responsible business, aims to help enterprises achieve their full potential in terms of creating wealth, jobs and innovative solutions to the many challenges facing Europe's society. It sets out how enterprises can benefit from CSR as well as contributing to society as a whole by taking greater steps to meet their social responsibility.

Social Business Initiative - guide — 26 October 2011, 17:54 CET

The European Commission has adopted a Social Business Initiative action plan as part of a package of measures entitled the Responsible Business Initiative.

Losing EU hails Nobel's recognition of women peacemakers — 07 October 2011, 13:22 CET

Three men at the head of the European Union. collectively a losing nominee, hailed Friday the Nobel Peace Prize committee's recognition of the "pivotal role" played by women in conflict resolution.

Cohesion: legislative package of EU regional, employment and social policy for 2014-2020 - guide — 06 October 2011, 14:16 CET

Cohesion policy is implemented through programmes which run for the duration of the EU seven-year budget cycle. The current 455 programmes are foreseen until 2013. This is why it is necessary to define the architecture of the policy for the new generation of programmes and allocations for 2014-20. Today’s legislative package includes an overarching regulation setting out common rules governing the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). One set of rules instead of 5. Three specific regulations for the ERDF, the ESF and the Cohesion Fund will also be included, as well as two regulations dealing with the European territorial cooperation goal and the European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC). The Commission also adopted proposals for two instruments in the area of employment and social policy, namely the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) and the Programme for Social Change and Innovation (PSCI), as well as a communication on the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF).

Despite tensions, Bulgarians and Roma all cry for justice — 04 October 2011, 12:27 CET

Barely a word passes between Bulgarians and Roma in the southern city of Plovdiv, where ethnic tensions flared up last week, but they still have one thing in common: a desire for justice.

Britain residency test discriminates against EU citizens: EU — 29 September 2011, 17:09 CET

Britain is discriminating against citizens from other EU nations by subjecting them to a residency test before they can get certain social security benefits, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

EU urges full equality after historic Saudi female vote move — 27 September 2011, 11:15 CET

The EU's foreign affairs chief welcomed Saudi Arabia's decision on Monday to allow women to vote, urging full equality in its wake.

Slovak nationalist wants separate state for Roma minority — 20 September 2011, 11:41 CET

Slovakia's nationalist party leader called Tuesday for the creation of a Roma state for the European Union's most neglected and impoverished minority, a move slammed by human rights groups.

Abandoned Roma children fill Europe's orphanages: study — 19 September 2011, 20:24 CET

Abandoned Roma children are found in large numbers in orphanages and homes for the disabled in central and eastern Europe, a study by a Bulgarian human rights group showed Monday, urging authorities to address the issue.

2011 Implementation Report on the Protection of Minors and Human Dignity Recommendations — 13 September 2011, 16:19 CET

On 13 September 2011, the Commission adopted a Report analysing the implementation of the 1998 and 2006 Recommendations in the Member States – "Protecting Children in the Digital World".

Protecting Children in the Digital World - Commission Report on the Protection of Minors — 13 September 2011, 16:28 CET

How Member States are implementing EU Recommendations ensuring children can enjoy the digital world confidently and safely are reviewed by the European Commission in a report presented today. Member States and industry are increasingly making efforts to implement EU Recommendations dating from 1998 and 2006 on the protection of minors using audiovisual and online services. But the measures taken have been insufficient overall.

Europe's children 'still unsafe in online world' — 13 September 2011, 16:28 CET

EU Member States are not doing enough to protect children in the digital world and need to upgrade hotline systems, social networking awareness and age-rating, says the Commission.

Pilots can't be grounded after 60: EU court — 15 September 2011, 17:44 CET

Airline pilots should be allowed to continue flying after the age of 60, Europe's highest court said Tuesday, condemning an age limit imposed by German carrier Lufthansa as discriminatory.