Social Policy in the EU

News and information about the European Union's social policies.

EC Court rules on rights for dismissed pregnant workers — 03 November 2009, 12:34 CET

Dismissed pregnant workers must enjoy effective judicial protection of their under Community law, according to a ruling by the European Court of Justice.

Simplification of regulation on international successions - briefing — 14 October 2009, 22:59 CET

The European Commission has adopted a proposal that should considerably simplify the rules on successions with an international dimension in the European Union. The aim is to make life easier for citizens by laying down common rules enabling the competent authority and law applicable to the body of assets making up a succession, wherever they may be, to be easily identified. In addition to providing more effective guarantees for the rights of heirs, legatees and other interested parties, the proposed Regulation will take some of the stress out of succession planning by enabling people to choose the law that will govern the transmission of all their assets. The Commission is also proposing the creation of a European Certificate of Succession enabling an heir or the administrator of a succession to prove their capacity easily throughout the EU.

'Investing in People' 2007-2013 — 02 October 2009, 22:19 CET

'Investing in People (2007 – 2013)' is the main thematic instrument of the European Commission for support of programmes in the area of human and social development, on top of country programmes that form the corner stone for the implementation of the EC activities in this area.

Policy Coherence for Development — 02 October 2009, 22:28 CET

When exploring ways to accelerate progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the European Union (EU) considers how non-aid policies can assist developing countries in attaining the MDGs. The EU activity in this field is not only a key political commitment in the context of the MDGs, but also has a firm legal basis in the Treaty establishing the European Community (Article 178).

EU report on the social dimension of the growth and jobs strategy — 29 September 2009, 22:59 CET

The EU's strategy for growth and jobs must pay more attention to social cohesion goals in the future, says a new report presented by the European Commission. The report from the Social Protection Committee – which brings together experts from each EU country – finds that social protection systems have helped shield Europeans from the worst effects of the financial crisis. But it concludes that social protection alone is not enough to prevent poverty and exclusion, calling for more emphasis on goals such as fighting child poverty and promoting active inclusion. Further modernisation of social protection needs to be fully articulated with growth and jobs strategies.

Calypso - Social Tourism in the EU — 15 April 2010, 12:40 CET

Social tourism proves that economic and employment opportunities, key goals within the Lisbon strategy, can indeed be generated by increasing tourism accessibility for additional strata of the European population. By facilitating tourism access in European Destinations for society groups for which going on holiday represents a difficult or even impossible undertaking, social tourism strengthens the tourism industry's revenue generation potential. Social tourism encourages the creation of longer-lasting employment opportunities in the tourism sector by making it possible to extend such jobs beyond the respective peak season.

Calypso - Social Tourism in the EU — 24 September 2009, 16:04 CET

Social tourism proves that economic and employment opportunities, key goals within the Lisbon strategy, can indeed be generated by increasing tourism accessibility for additional strata of the European population. By facilitating tourism access in European Destinations for society groups for which going on holiday represents a difficult or even impossible undertaking, social tourism strengthens the tourism industry's revenue generation potential. Social tourism encourages the creation of longer-lasting employment opportunities in the tourism sector by making it possible to extend such jobs beyond the respective peak season.

EU Social Policy Contacts — 29 September 2009, 12:49 CET

 

A European Private Company Statute — 08 July 2011, 18:16 CET

Progress must be made to improve access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the Single Market and to promote their development in the European Union. The European Council proposes the adoption of a European Private Company Statute enabling companies to be set up across the Community, under simplified conditions.

ESF Activities: Businesses undergoing change — 29 September 2009, 12:56 CET

For the 2007-2013 programming period, the European Social Fund (ESF) is supporting actions aimed at anticipating and managing economic and structural changes to ensure more and better jobs for Europe.

European Social Fund (ESF) — 14 October 2020, 00:05 CET

The ESF invests in people, with a focus on improving employment and education opportunities across the European Union. It also aims to improve the situation of the most vulnerable people at risk of poverty.

Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity - PROGRESS, 2007-2013 — 29 September 2009, 12:57 CET

The overall aim of the European Union's PROGRESS programme is to financially support the implementation of the objectives of the EU in employment, social affairs and equal opportunities, as set out in the Social Agenda. It will thereby also contribute to the achievement of the EU Growth and Jobs Strategy.

The European Observatory on the Social Situation and Demography — 29 September 2009, 12:57 CET

The European Observatory on the Social Situation and Demography consists of four multi-disciplinary networks of independent experts established for the European Commission in 2005. Its aim is to analyse social and demographic trends and to assist the Commission in its duty to report on the social situation.

European website on Integration — 17 April 2009, 13:58 CET

Under the slogan 'Integration at your fingertips', the website is aimed at promoting integration and provides high-quality content responding to actors' needs and building a community of integration practitioners.

EU - Second European Quality of Life Survey - Overview (EUROFOUND) — 16 April 2009, 23:14 CET

The second European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS), carried out by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living andWorking Conditions (Eurofound) from September 2007 to February 2008, represents a unique attempt to explore quality of life throughout Europe. With information gathered from 35,000 interviews conducted in 31 countries, it is a major source of information, highlighting for policymakers and other interested groups the social and economic challenges facing the EU in the wake of the two recent rounds of enlargement. For four out of five Europeans, health is key to quality of life. This report also includes information on work-life balance. More than a quarter (27%) of workers in the EU27 feel that they spend too much time in work; more men than women are of this opinion (29% of men and 24% of women). Enabling citizens to develop a balance between family life, personal commitments and working time has become central to the social policy debate.

Fight discrimination, harassment and violence against Lesbians and Gays in the EU: report — 31 March 2009, 20:09 CET

The EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) today publishes its new report "Homophobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the EU Member States: Part II - The Social Situation". The report finds that discrimination, harassment and violence against LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) persons are widespread throughout the EU.

Publication: Europe for women — 05 March 2009, 23:40 CET

The European Union is involved in a number of areas that affect your daily life, from gender equality to product safety. How do you want the EU to shape these issues in the future? Use your vote at the European Parliament elections in June 2009 - Manuscript completed in March 2009.

Gender pay gap - EU campaign — 04 March 2009, 00:29 CET

Highly skilled and loyal employees are the most precious resource for a majority of small and medium-sized enterprises. This initiative aims to assist SMEs in Europe to increase their productivity and boost their competitiveness by breaking down the invisible barriers created by gender stereotypes, thereby maximizing the potential of their employees.

Monthly monitoring report on EU employment and social situation - Feb 09 — 18 February 2009, 21:10 CET

In response to the need to closely monitor the rapidly changing situation on a more frequent basis and provide up-to-date information on recent developments following the economic crisis which hit in October 2008, a new monthly monitoring report on the EU labour market situation and outlook has been established in 2009. The report provides a factual, descriptive update which aims to shed light on the situation in European labour markets on a more timely basis.

116000 EU missing children hotline - briefing — 18 February 2009, 19:43 CET

Two years ago, the European Commission reserved the number 116000 as a common missing children telephone hotline for the entire EU and called on Member States to get it up and running. While last year, the 116000 number was only working in Hungary, after repeated calls from the Commission, all EU Member States have today made the number publicly available to hotline providers. The number has also been assigned to service providers in nine Member States, compared to seven last year. 116000 is now a working service in five countries (Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal and Romania). It will also be functioning soon in two further countries (Belgium and Slovakia). After having closely monitored that 116000 is reserved by EU countries, as required under EU law, the Commission now calls once again on Member States to support and guide would-be 116000 hotline operators so that parents and children can call 116000 when they need it, everywhere in Europe.

Implementation of the European autonomous framework agreement on work-related stress: Report by the European social partners — 16 December 2008, 12:45 CET

On 15 December representatives of employers and workers at EU-level presented a report on how they have implemented their framework agreement on work-related stress. Stress is a serious work-related health problem and considered the primary cause of lost working days in Europe. The objective of the agreement is for workers and employers to work together at better identifying, preventing and managing stress.

EU action plan on drugs 2009-2012 - briefing — 08 December 2008, 23:54 CET

The EU Council on 8 December endorsed the "EU Drugs Action Plan for 2009-2012". The endorsed Action Plan includes wide-ranging measures to strengthen European cooperation to curb the adverse consequences of drug use and reduce the crime related to it. The Action Plan is grouped around five priorities covering actions to improve coordination, to reduce the demand for drugs, to reduce the supply of drugs, to improve international cooperation and to improve understanding of the drugs phenomenon.

Equal opportunities for women and men at the European Commission - briefing — 20 November 2008, 17:48 CET

The European Commission in 2007 recruited more women than men in all employment categories. Women accounted for 50.6% of appointments to administrator posts and 74% to assistant posts. Progress is particularly clear in appointments to administrator posts: 54.2% of non-management administrator appointments (vs. 44% in 2004), 31.5% for middle management (vs. 23.2% in 2004), and 35.1% for senior management (vs. 12.8% in 2004). At the same time, Commission departments are doing more to raise staff awareness, reconcile private and professional life, and enhance career development. These and other results are published today in the annual monitoring report on the "Fourth action programme for equal opportunities for women and men at the European Commission".

Childcare facilities for pre-school-age children: EU report — 12 October 2008, 23:14 CET

Childcare services in EU countries are failing to respond to the needs of parents, despite some progress, according to a report published on 3 October 2008 by the European Commission. The report finds that most countries have missed the targets for childcare provision – for 90% of children between three and school age and 33% of children under three – that EU leaders set themselves at Barcelona in 2002. The 'Barcelona targets' are an integral part of the EU's strategy for growth and jobs and aim to help young parents – and in particular women – into work. The Commission report forms part of a broader package of measures by the Commission to improve work-life balance for Europeans. (pdf report)

Work-life balance package - briefing — 09 October 2008, 23:51 CET

Millions of women throughout Europe will be entitled to longer and better maternity leave, under proposals unveiled on 3 October by the European Commission. A separate proposal would also improve the situation of self-employed women by providing equivalent access to maternity leave, on a voluntary basis. The two initiatives form part of a package of measures to improve work-life balance for all Europeans – both women and men. They aim to update and improve existing EU legislation and will now be sent to the European Parliament and national governments for discussion. Meanwhile, the European social partners have launched negotiations to improve other forms of family leave, such as parental leave.