European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
social inclusion
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Written by Nicole Scholz, Each year, 3 December marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The day was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) in 1992 to promote awareness and mobilise support. The 2016 theme, ‘achieving 17 goals for the future we want‘, highlights the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their role in creating a more … Continue reading
EU policy for Roma inclusion
Written by Anita Orav, Around 6 million Roma, or about half of the estimated Roma population in Europe, live in the European Union. Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary are the Member States with the highest percentages of Roma within their populations. International Roma Day, which falls on 8 April, provides an opportunity to discuss the … Continue reading
The minimum wage: A motor for growth or a brake on the economy?
Written by Cemal Karakas Setting minimum wages are a direct way for governments to influence wage levels. Even though they are one of the most analysed and debated topics in economics, their impact on (un-)employment, growth and poverty remains ambiguous. For some experts, the rise of minimum wages will lead to job losses, as it … Continue reading
EU sport policy: An overview
Written by Vivienne Halleux Sport has a significant impact on the European Union (EU)’s economy and society, and its importance is growing. Sport-related employment has been estimated at 7.38 million people, equivalent to 3.51% of total EU employment, and the share of sport-related gross value added, at €294 billion (2.98% of total EU gross value … Continue reading
Roma integration strategies in the EU
The EU has long stressed the need for improved Roma integration. The European institutions and each individual Member State have a joint responsibility for changing the current situation. 3 language versions available in PDF format EN: Roma integration strategies in the EU FR: Stratégies en faveur de l’intégration des Roms dans l’Union européenne DE: Strategien … Continue reading
Ageing population: projections 2010 – 2060 for the EU27
Ageing of the European Union (EU) population has a major impact on society and in terms of economics. A decreasing birth rate and an increase in life expectancy are expected to transform the shape of the EU’s age pyramid and also raise the median age. In the 50 years from 2010 to 2060, the population … Continue reading
The social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union
Updated on 30 October 2013 In response to the economic crisis, a number of EU-level measures have been taken in the last five years to reinforce economic governance and improve the functioning of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). With the aim of further deepening social and economic integration in the euro area, the European Commission put … Continue reading
Pauvreté dans l’Union européenne. Impact social de la crise économique
Dans l’Union européenne (UE), 119 millions de personnes étaient menacées de pauvreté ou d’exclusion sociale en 2011, soit près d’une personne sur quatre, avec de grandes disparités entre les Etats membres (EM). La pauvreté a plusieurs facettes, c’est pourquoi l’UE utilise différents indicateurs pour la mesurer, fondés sur les ressources monétaires, les conditions de vie, … Continue reading
Fund for European Aid for the Most Deprived
On 24 October 2012, the European Commission (EC) announced a proposal to set up a new Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) to support national schemes providing food, clothing and other essential goods to the most-deprived, the homeless and materially-deprived children. The Europe 2020 strategy has placed fight against poverty and social … Continue reading
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