Social Policy in the EU

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

Record levels of cocaine in Europe: EU drugs agency — 24 September 2020, 00:15 CET

Increase in cocaine availability with seizures at a record high, a near doubling of heroin seizures and high availability of high purity drugs are the stand-out points of the European Drug Report published Tuesday.

Women4Cyber Registry — 07 July 2020, 22:12 CET

Women4Cyber Registry was created to identify and build the community of women professionals in the field of cybersecurity. It gathers women, with different profiles and could be a reference point for expert groups, event organisers, media, as well as collaboration and potentially business opportunities. The aim of this Registry is to encourage women professionals to come forward, become more active in the field and raise their own visibility as well as promote the Women4Cyber initiatives.

Commission sets out agenda for gender equality — 09 March 2020, 18:31 CET

A new Gender Equality Strategy, outlined Thursday by the EU Commission, sets out key actions for the next 5 years and commits the executive to include an equality perspective in all EU policy areas.

European Institute for Gender Equality — 05 March 2020, 23:24 CET

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is an autonomous body of the European Union, established to contribute to and strengthen the promotion of gender equality, including gender mainstreaming in all EU policies and the resulting national policies, and the fight against discrimination based on sex, as well as to raise EU citizens’ awareness of gender equality.

Gender Equality Strategy - background guide — 05 March 2020, 18:43 CET

The European Commission presented on 5 February its strategy for equality between women and men in Europe.

EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls — 26 September 2019, 23:21 CET

Today in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the European Union and the United Nations are hosting a high level event on the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative - inviting all countries, leaders, civil society representatives and local ambassadors to join the movement and take action to end violence against women and girls.

EU work-life balance directive comes into force — 04 August 2019, 23:43 CET

An EU Directive on work-life balance, which came into force Thursday, aims to increase the participation of women in the labour market and the take-up of parental leave and flexible working arrangements.

Cocaine seizures in Europe hit all-time high: EU drugs report — 06 June 2019, 23:42 CET

Seizures of cocaine are at record levels in Europe, with signs of an increase in the drug's availability, according to the European Drug Report released by the EU's drugs agency on Thursday.

Final approval for new EU rules to reconcile work and family life — 09 April 2019, 00:03 CET

New rules on paternity leave and non-transferable parental leave, given final approval by MEPs on Thursday, strengthen the role of a father and boost women’s representation in the workplace.

'Fairer rules' on social security agreed for workers abroad — 22 March 2019, 01:10 CET

The EU institutions came to a provisional agreement Wednesday on new rules to ensure 'fair and clear' access to social security benefits for EU workers who have moved to a different EU country.

Drug use increase in European cities: wastewater report — 14 March 2019, 14:23 CET

The latest findings from the largest European project in the emerging science of wastewater analysis were presented Thursday by the Europe-wide SCORE group, in association with the EU drugs agency.

2019 Gender Equality report — 07 March 2019, 22:48 CET

On the occasion of this year's International Women's Day, the European Commission published its 2019 report on equality between women and men in the EU.

Red tape cut for those who move to another EU Member State — 20 February 2019, 23:24 CET

From 16 February, bureaucratic procedures for citizens who need to present a public document to get married or start a job in the country they live in have been cut across the European Union.

Family law — 30 January 2019, 22:48 CET

Family law is the competence of EU countries, and EU rules apply only in cross-border cases. Overview of family matters - Divorce and separation - Children's wellbeing - Property of international couples (marriages and registered partnerships) - Successions and wills - Civil status documents

New EU property regime for international couples in force — 31 January 2019, 21:17 CET

New EU regulations establishing clear rules applicable to property regimes for international married couples or registered partnerships in cases of divorce or death apply as of Tuesday.

EU agrees better work-life balance for parents and carers — 28 January 2019, 12:17 CET

The EU institutions reached a provisional agreement Friday on a proposal to improve access for working parents to work-life balance arrangements such as leaves and flexible working arrangements.

Antisemitism in Europe: Eurobarometer survey — 23 January 2019, 18:24 CET

Of all the antisemitic expressions, denying the Holocaust is seen also by the general public as the most problematic, albeit by a significantly lower number, namely only one in two (53%),according to the EU's latest Eurobarometer of pubic opinion, published on 22 January 2019.

Brussels consults on EU equal pay guarantee — 15 January 2019, 23:26 CET

The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather information on the impact of EU rules on equal pay and how to better implement and enforce the EU equal pay principles.

Ministers agree update to EU rules on protecting children in cross-border family disputes — 12 December 2018, 13:45 CET

EU Justice Ministers have reached a political agreement on a proposal to update the rules that protect children in cross-border family proceedings, including international child abduction.

9 out of 10 European Jews see rise in antisemitism — 12 December 2018, 13:20 CET

9 out of 10 European Jews feel antisemitism has increased over the past five years, particularly on the internet and on social media, says a poll by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, published Monday.

Elimination of violence against women — 27 November 2018, 15:55 CET

Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread and devastating human rights violations across the globe. The European Union has put substantial actions in place to ensure violence against girls and women is ended once and for all.

EU Parliament, Council strike deal on accessibility — 08 November 2018, 22:56 CET

Key products and services such as smartphones, ticketing machines and banking services will have to be made more accessible to people with disabilities following a deal by Parliament and Council Thursday.

European Accessibility Act — 08 November 2018, 22:37 CET

The European Accessibility Act aims to improve the functioning of the internal market for accessible products and services by removing barriers created by divergent legislation. This will facilitate the work of companies and will bring benefits for persons with disabilities and elderly people in the EU.

EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls — 27 September 2018, 21:56 CET

The European Union and the United Nations announced on 27 September a EUR 50 million programme to end femicide in Latin America as part of the Spotlight Initiative, a partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, backed by an initial EUR 500 million.

Employment and Social Developments in Europe: 2018 review — 16 July 2018, 16:46 CET

This year's edition of the European Commission's yearly Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) review confirms confirms the ongoing positive labour market trends as well as an improving social situation. The numbers of people in employment reached new record levels. At the same time we witness rising disposable incomes and lower levels of poverty. Severe material deprivation has receded to an all-time low, with 16.1 million fewer people affected, compared with 2012.