Social Policy in the EU

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

New social fund, double Erasmus funding in new EU Budget — 03 June 2018, 20:39 CET

For the next long-term EU budget, the EU Commission proposes to reinforce and better target several existing Funds including a new European Social Fund and double funding for Erasmus to EUR 30 bn.

New Social Fund and Globalisation Adjustment Fund for the period 2021-2027 — 31 May 2018, 23:21 CET

As part of its proposals for a long-term EU Budget for the period 2021-2027, the European Commission proposes to establish a renewed European Social Fund, the 'European Social Fund Plus' (ESF+).

Member States need to do more on pensions, says EU — 02 May 2018, 23:37 CET

Further measures are needed if EU Member States are to maintain the income of men and women for the duration of retirement and prevent old-age poverty, an EU report on pensions adequacy said Monday.

European Labour Authority — 14 March 2018, 00:25 CET

The European Commission adopted on 13 March a proposal for a Regulation establishing a European Labour Authority.

EU action for women's rights and gender equality — 09 March 2018, 00:24 CET

The European Commission set out on 8 March various initiatives it is engaged in in support of women's rights and gender equality.

Employment in EU better than expected in 2017 — 12 February 2018, 17:47 CET

Backed by robust economic growth, employment in the EU continued to rise more strongly than expected in the third quarter of 2017, while unemployment figures declined further according to new figures.

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) — 05 February 2018, 22:26 CET

The European Union has actively participated in international cooperation to promote the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation. Discussion on Female Genital Mutilation is included in human rights and political dialogues with partner countries and in annual dialogues with civil society organisations.

Social media record on removing hate speech improves — 23 January 2018, 13:28 CET

IT companies removed around 70% of illegal hate speech notified to them, according to an evaluation of the EU Code of Conduct on countering illegal online hate speech carried out by NGOs and public bodies.

EU agrees on access to products and services for disabled people — 08 December 2017, 23:41 CET

The EU Council signalled its readiness Thursday to start talks with the European Parliament on the accessibility directive, to make everyday products and services more accessible to people with a disability.

Lyon wins 2018 Access City Award — 07 December 2017, 13:48 CET

On the European Day for People with Disabilities, the French city of Lyon was awarded the 2018 Access City Award for its inclusive and universal accessibility. the EU Commission announced on Tuesday.

UK's refusal of transgender pension unlawful: EU Court — 05 December 2017, 22:29 CET

A requirement for a transgender person to be unmarried in order to qualify for a state retirement pension is unlawful, according to the Opinion of the Advocate-General of the EU's top Court given Tuesday.

New guidelines to cut EU food waste — 16 October 2017, 18:08 CET

Guidelines to lifting barriers to food donation in the EU, just published by the Commission, clarify relevant EU legislation and are seen as a key deliverable of the EU's 'circular economy'.

From institutions to community living - European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights report — 12 October 2017, 20:50 CET

Many people with disabilities in the EU still live in institutions. They risk being isolated, marginalised and prevented from living a full, independent life, and face worse conditions than people without disabilities. This calls for systematic changes in the way support for people with disabilities is organised and funded, new reports from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reveal. They suggest what people with disabilities need from the EU and its Member States to enjoy living independently with community-based support, simply taking public transport or shopping.

Sweden EU's top performer on gender equality — 12 October 2017, 20:24 CET

Gender equality in Europe is progressing at a snail's pace, according to an updated Gender Equality Index published Wednesday, showing Sweden as the top-performing country and Greece at the bottom.

MEPs call for EU-wide minimum income — 28 September 2017, 22:37 CET

Introducing minimum income schemes in all EU Member States is one of the most effective ways to lift people out of poverty, Euro-MPs on the Parliament's Employment Committee said on Thursday.

Brussels looks to extend scope of EU rules on work contracts — 27 September 2017, 00:18 CET

The EU Commission is in talks with trades unions and employers' organisations on making rules on employment contracts fairer and more predictable for all types of workers.

Updating EU rules on employment contracts — 26 September 2017, 23:20 CET

The European Commission has entered into further discussions with trade unions and employers' organisations at EU level on how to modernise the rules on employment contracts, in order to make these contracts fairer and more predictable for all types of workers.

EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls — 21 September 2017, 20:32 CET

The European Union and the United Nations have launched a new partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, backed by an initial dedicated financial envelope of EUR 500 million.

Unfair burden on the young: EU employment review — 19 July 2017, 18:08 CET

An annual review of employment and social developments in Europe, published Monday, finds a particularly high burden, exacerbated by demographic ageing, being placed on younger generations.

Brussels launches social security information system — 04 July 2017, 17:02 CET

The EU Commission launched Monday a new IT platform that will connect electronically around 15,000 social security institutions of EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) — 04 July 2017, 16:58 CET

EESSI is an IT system that helps social security institutions across to EU exchange information more rapidly and securely, as required by the EU rules on social security coordination. At the moment most exchanges are paper-based: these are going to be replaced by electronic exchanges in the coming years, as EU Member States progress with connecting to EESSI.

Brussels announces portable EU pension plan — 29 June 2017, 18:23 CET

The EU Commission announced plans Thursday for a new class of pan-European pension products, allowing European consumers to benefit from more choice when saving for retirement.

Personal Pensions Products — 29 June 2017, 18:18 CET

Personal pensions (also known as 'private pensions') are long-term savings products that individuals contribute to on a voluntary basis, complementing state and workplace pensions. They have a role to play in linking long-term savers with long-term investment opportunities. The Commission is exploring ways to increase choices for retirement saving and build an EU market for personal pensions.

Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP) — 29 June 2017, 18:12 CET

The European Commission launched on 29 June a new pan-European personal pensions label to help consumers save for retirement.

Non-EU nationals entitled to social benefits: EU Court — 21 June 2017, 23:43 CET

A non-EU national holding a single work permit in a Member State enjoys, as a general rule, the social security benefits provided for that state's nationals, the EU's top Court ruled on Wednesday.