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February 26, 2013
Last week, the European Commission has published a long waited package of targeted tools called Social Investment Package (SIP) . According to the rhetoric: “Social investment means enhancing people’s capacities and supporting their participation in society and the labour market. “ But will it turn into real action? Is this the appropriate tool to fight… » read more
By Klaus Busch, Christoph Hermann, Karl Hinrichs, Thorsten Schulten of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung The harsh austerity measures that, according to official policy, are supposed to overcomethe euro crisis have once again plunged Europe into recession in 2012. Austerity policy has proved – in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain (GIPS) – to be primarily an attack on wages,… » read more
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English, Euro & Finance, Member States, Social Europe & Jobs |
February 11, 2013
Sometimes it is much more efficient and didactic to look over the general perceptions of the public regarding a certain policy in order to come to some conclusions. The case of Greece after 4 yours of an unprecedent economic crisis is one of a kind. This last period the Greek society seems to have lost… » read more
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English, Euro & Finance, Member States, Social Europe & Jobs |
Alors que se multiplient en Europe les incidents, parfois graves avec éventuellement mort d’homme, incidents de nature xénophobe et les appels à la haine raciale ou autre, à l’image des nombreux appels anti-roms lancés dans certains pays comme la Roumanie, la Hongrie, la Présidence irlandaise du Conseil de l’UE et son ministre de la Justice,… » read more
January 22, 2013
Ernst Stetter and Giovanni Cozzi (Economic Adviser at FEPS) Youth unemployment has become one of the most crucial economic and social issues in Europe since the outburst of the ongoing financial and economic crisis. Several European countries are experiencing extremely high levels of youth unemployment. For instance, in 2011 countries like Spain, Greece, and Italy… » read more
January 20, 2013
L’élaboration des politiques migratoires dépend de plus en plus d’une opinion publique, elle-même souvent fortement influencée par les croyances et la nature de l’exposition médiatique, plus que par les faits eux-mêmes. Un débat serein sur ces politiques exige un traitement médiatique objectif et approfondi des problématiques économiques et sociales liées à l’immigration. On préfère faire… » read more
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English, EU Institutions, Global Europe, Social Europe & Jobs |
January 15, 2013
A student slowly shuts the door as he exits the exam room, with examination still going on inside. He thinks to himself: “I did it, I just earned my diploma, I’m a university graduate!” At that point, however, he does not fully realise, that every end has a new beginning. Let’s pose a question. How… » read more
January 11, 2013
As heads of the EU member states call for slashes to the next EU budget, fears have grown that the future of “low-hanging fruit” such as the Erasmus grant could be in jeopardy. Here is an infographic laying out a few statistics on the world’s most successful student exchange programme, from 2010-2011.
December 12, 2012
One week ago, on Wednesday Dec 5th, the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Mr Laszlo Andor, presented a new package of measures against unemployment. The job market is severely affected by the crisis and it gets worse every month. We stand now at alarmingly high youth unemployment rates in Europe: average 23%… » read more
December 5, 2012
The index on state sector corruption, published by anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI) on Wednesday, placed Greece on the last position between the 27 member-states of the European Union and in the 80th globally. But is this something not expected? Some thoughts over this multi-faceted and structural problem. It has been over 50 years that… » read more
December 3, 2012
According to Jessica Wallace, the developer of this infographic, ‘Equal education, unequal pay’: “It highlight and illustrates how the unfair gender wage gap continues to be a big problem.”
November 26, 2012
Bank regulation has always been very much like a cat-and-mouse game in which banks are always a step ahead of regulators. As banks have incentives to engage in excessive risk-taking, regulation has been desperately trying to limit such behaviour, most importantly in the form of capital requirements. But wouldn’t gender quotas do the same job… » read more
November 20, 2012
Mr. George Ayfantis is a Greek Ambassador and Diplomatic Advisor to SYRIZA-USF. He is amongst the most reformative voices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, being realist and rational, while keeping his profile outside media. 1. In the midst of a devastating financial meltdown, what do you personally believe the answer of the European Union… » read more
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English, enlargement, EU Priorities 2020, Global Europe, Member States, Regional policy, Social Europe & Jobs |
November 19, 2012
The latest output about poverty in Greece conducted by the Greek Statistic Agency -along with combined data from Eurostat- shows the depth and width of the Greek problem since 2010. It only takes to consider that in 2010 unemployment rates were about 14% whereas two years later there is an increase of 50% reaching now… » read more
November 15, 2012
Between real estate, lucrative strikes, and repurchase deals, George Soros has built the profile of a mysterious man. He is considered amid the very few people that pull the strings of those controlling the market trends and the fate of people globally. He is also frequently mentioned as distinguished guest in secret dinners, and as… » read more
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English, Euro & Finance, Member States, Social Europe & Jobs |
November 7, 2012
In my last blog I argued that the next EU budget should be a multiannual framework of a joint and common expression of a sound economic, fiscal and social policy in Europe. The budget framework should be therefore also a starting point for a more thoughtful debate on the future of the Union. We are… » read more
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English, EU Institutions, EU Priorities 2020, Euro & Finance, Member States, Social Europe & Jobs |
November 5, 2012
Europe’s 80 million people with disabilities are at serious risk of poverty, social exclusion and discrimination as a result of their governments’ austerity measures, according to a recent study commissioned by the European Foundation Centre’s European Consortium on Human Rights and Disability. The study reveals how reduced spending on welfare and social services by some… » read more
October 30, 2012
By Horatiu Ferchiu Sometimes I fear that the Europe I know is slowly disappearing. That the “dream that is Europe” is about to be abruptly interrupted by petty interests and self-centered individuals. That after experiencing European freedom I will now be punished with the whip of nationalism. And it is frightening. At the peak frequency… » read more
October 24, 2012
By Ilektra Tsakalidou The “rise” and “fall” of the Far Right in Europe have been in the heart of debates among political analysts since the late 1980s. In Greece, the debate only became relevant after the 7th of May elections and the last weeks of political campaigning preceding them. The issue still fascinates because for… » read more
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English, Member States, Regional policy, Social Europe & Jobs |
This week, Members of the European Parliament have a real opportunity to tackle food speculation. High and volatile food prices are driving millions into poverty in low income food import dependant countries. European families are feeling the bite too. On October 26th, when they vote on the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), Members of… » read more
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English, EU Institutions, EU Priorities 2020, Global Europe, Social Europe & Jobs, Sustainable Dev. |
