European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Marie Lecerf
Minimum wage in the EU
In 2020, most European Union (EU) Member States have a statutory minimum wage (21 of 27), while six others have wage levels determined though collective bargaining. Continue reading
Impact of coronavirus on EU aid to the most deprived [Policy Podcast]
Around 24 million people in the EU, or 5.6 % of the population, are ‘severely materially deprived’. Fighting poverty and social exclusion is therefore a key priority, and to this end the EU supplements its Member States’ aid to those most in need through the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), which has a budget of €3.8 billion. Continue reading
European Day of Persons with Disabilities
On 3 December each year, the European Commission, together with the European Disability Forum, organises a conference to mark the European Day of Persons with Disabilities, and 2019 marks the 27th anniversary of this day. Continue reading
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2019: EU contribution to the fight against child poverty
Over recent decades, there has been marked progress in reducing poverty worldwide. The research conducted by this year’s Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences laureates, Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer, has considerably improved the ability to fight global poverty. Continue reading
How the EU budget is spent: Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived
In 2014, around 122 million people were ‘at risk of poverty or social exclusion’ (AROPE) in the 28 EU Member States– a quarter of the population. This means they were in at least one of the following situations: at risk of monetary poverty (17.2 % of the total population); living in households with very low work intensity (11.1 %); or severely materially deprived (9.0 %). Continue reading
EU policies – Delivering for citizens: The fight against unemployment [Policy Podcast]
The fight against unemployment was brought to the top of the European agenda with the onset of the 2008 economic and financial crisis, and the consequent rise in unemployment rates in all European Union (EU) Member States. Continue reading
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027 [EU Legislation in Progress]
In preparation for the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027, the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) on 30 May 2018. Continue reading
EPRS Event: Economic and Social policies for young people
On 20 March 2018, the EPRS organised a policy roundtable in the Library of the European Parliament. This is the first of a series of five EPRS roundtables to set a ‘Roadmap for the Future of Europe – From Bratislava to Sibiu’. Continue reading
European Accessibility Act [EU Legislation in Progress]
To ensure the full participation of people with disabilities in society and to reduce the fragmentation of legislation governing access to products and services, the European Commission has adopted a proposal for a directive – often referred to as the European Accessibility Act. Continue reading
Child poverty in the European Union: The crisis and its aftermath
Written by Marie Lecerf, More than one in four children in the European Union (EU) is at risk of poverty or social exclusion. The poverty rate for children is higher than that for any other age group, though it varies widely across Member States. Furthermore, between 2008 and 2014, Europe has witnessed a rise in … Continue reading
Poverty in the European Union: The crisis and its aftermath
Written by Marie Lecerf, The economic crisis has exacerbated social burdens such as poverty and inequality, which were already major issues before the crisis. Due to the multifaceted nature of poverty, the European Union uses a multidimensional indicator – the ‘at risk of poverty or social exclusion’ rate – based on three different dimensions: monetary … Continue reading
Measures to tackle youth unemployment, are they enough?
Written by Richard Freedman in cooperation with Marie Lecerf The figures are stark. More than 4.5 million young people (aged 15-24 years) are unemployed today in the EU. The EU youth unemployment rate is more than double the overall unemployment rate (20% compared with 9%) and masks big differences between countries: there is a gap … Continue reading
Employment and social aspects of the Europe 2020 strategy
Written by Marie Lecerf 6 language versions available in PDF format Beschäftigungsbezogene und soziale Aspekte der Strategie Europa 2020 Empleo y aspectos sociales de la Estrategia Europa 2020 Emploi et aspects sociaux de la stratégie Europe 2020 Aspetti occupazionali e sociali della strategia UE 2020 Zatrudnienie i społeczne aspekty strategii „Europa 2020” Employment and social … Continue reading
The European Union’s response to Ebola
Written by Marie Lecerf A number of West African countries are currently experiencing the worst Ebola epidemic in history. As the situation continues to deteriorate rapidly, the European Commission has stepped up its response since March 2014 and is now pledging more than €147 million in response to the devastating human, sanitary, economic and political … Continue reading
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