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Barbara Thomaß

Barbara Thomass is professor emerita at Ruhr-University of Bochum for international comparison of media systems and a senior researcher at Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institute in Hamburg. She is the second deputy head of the administrative council of the ZDF, the national public-service broadcaster in Germany.

On the way to a European digital public sphere

Barbara Thomaß

A European digital public sphere need not be constructed de novo. Many elements already exist to be cohered.

Why do we need a European digital public sphere?

Katrin Dapp, Johanna Niesyto, Jan-Hendrik Passoth, Barbara Thomaß and Michael-Bernhard Zita

Introducing a new series on a European digital public sphere, some contributors sketch what it is—and explain why we need it.

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Spring Issues

Read the new book “Algorithmic rule”!”

The future is not simply digital; it is algorithmic. Read the new book “Algorithmic rule”, edited by Maja Fjaestad and Simon Vinge.
The book explores what can be described as algocracy – rule by algorithms.
We need a progressive algorithmic future – an alternative that resists surrendering sovereignty to Big Tech. Transparency is essential, but it is not enough; the deeper challenge is to ensure that citizens and workers themselves influence the algorithms that govern them.

This book is part of the FEPS–Nordic Digital Programme.

READ NOW

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WSI Report

WSI Minimum Wage Report 2025

The trend towards significant nominal minimum wage increases is continuing this year. In view of falling inflation rates, this translates into a sizeable increase in purchasing power for minimum wage earners in most European countries. Most EU countries are now following the reference values for adequate minimum wages enshrined in the European Minimum Wage Directive, which are 60% of the median wage or 50% of the average wage.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

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Cohesion Policy

S&D Position Paper on Cohesion Policy post-2027: a resilient future for European territorial equity

Cohesion Policy seeks to foster balanced development and reduce economic, social, and territorial disparities, focusing on rural areas, regions in industrial transition, and those with severe or permanent natural or demographic disadvantages, including outermost, sparsely populated, island, cross-border, and mountain regions.

READ THE PAPER HERE

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Health

🇪🇺 Building a Resilient, Equitable EU Health Union: The S&D Blueprint


From securing pharmaceutical autonomy and guaranteeing universal access to care (the European Health Guarantee) to combatting non-communicable diseases and closing the Gender Health Gap. Read the S&D Group in the European Parliament Position Paper demanding that health becomes a priority across all EU policies.

READ THE POSITION PAPER

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HESA Magazine Cover

Back to school with HesaMag 30: the leading European magazine on occupational safety and health explores teachers’ deteriorating working conditions. With field reporting, expert voices and trade union analysis, plus insights into EU policy shifts, discover why teachers’ health is key to our future.

DOWNLOAD HERE

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Mental Health
Eurofound Brussels Briefing on Mental Health in the EU

As part of its #BrusselsBriefings series, Eurofound is hosting an off-the-record session on 9 December dedicated to its recent research on mental health.
Eurofound expert Hans Dubois will present the latest findings drawing on comparative data, exploring how crises such as the Great Recession and COVID-19 have shaped mental-health outcomes, how different risk groups are evolving, and why social and economic conditions remain central drivers of poor mental health in EU countries.
REGISTER HERE TO ATTEND IN PERSON

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