Skip to content

Social Europe

  • YouTube
  • Podcast
  • eBooks
  • Newsletter
  • Membership

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

Claes-Mikael Ståhl (cmstahl@etuc.org) has been deputy general secretary at the European Trade Union Confederation since September 2021. He deals primarily with social dialogue, trade and standardisation.

Democracy Under Siege: Trade Unions Rise as a Bulwark Against the Far Right

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

Trade unions are poised to defend the institutions that bind society together.

Calling Time on 24/7 Work Connectivity

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

The rapid development of new technologies is increasing pressure and forcing unlimited working time and growing stress among many workers across Europe. 

pawns

Social dialogue: defending democracy in practice

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

In the face of the threat from the far right, trade unions represent democracy’s strongest supporters.

Democracy must set the standard

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

Standardisation of how artificial intelligence is deployed in the workplace is not a technical but a political matter.

democracy,populism,trade unions,civil-society organisations,far right

Democracy at work and in society: populist antidote

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

Trade unions and other civil-society organisations are key to fending off the threat from the far right.

Time to recognise a fifth EU freedom: solidarity

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

Tesla’s confrontation with Swedish workers highlights how solidarity must be enabled in a globalised Europe.

EU funds need stronger social conditionality

Claes-Mikael Ståhl, Judith Kirton-Darling, Jan Willem Goudriaan, Kristjan Bragason and Oliver Roethig

The rules for allocation of EU funds should be more transparent and provide a meaningful role for the social partners.

Stress at work: countering Europe’s new pandemic

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

Occupational stress has become endemic. It damages workers, their families, businesses and economies.

social dialogue,social partners

Social dialogue must be at the heart of Europe’s future

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

This week the European Commission will publish a proposal to revivify social dialogue. It must be more than words.

International Labour Organization,ILO,health and safety,OSH,occupational safety and health

Health and safety: Europe’s patchy commitment

Claes-Mikael Ståhl and Owen Tudor

The European Union must stop compromising on the fundamental right of workers to health and safety.

trade unions,labour shortages,workers,bargaining power

Labour shortages offer trade unions valuable opportunity

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

A ‘tight’ labour market is not such a bad thing for trade unions—and therefore for workers.

sanctions,Russia,Putin,Ukraine

Sanctions on Russia: the next phase

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

Sanctions have so far been economic and short-term. The long-term goal of political freedom in Russia must be kept in mind.

vision zero,occupational safety and health,OSH

Cutting workplace accidents and diseases to zero

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

The pandemic has focused attention on health and safety. But workers were already dying just trying to make a living.

strategic autonomy,trade,labour,workers,unions

EU strategic autonomy must mean fairer trade

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

If ‘strategic autonomy’ is to define the EU’s relation to the world, linked trade deals must not mean dependence for workers.

Aiming for a revolution in world trade

Claes-Mikael Ståhl

In the neoliberal era, global trade deals have come at the expense of workers. That can and must be reversed.

Eurofound advertisement

Ageing workforce
Is Europe’s mental health still in crisis?

New Eurofound research reveals a complex picture of mental health in Europe post-pandemic. While some factors show improvement, concerning trends persist, including an alarming halt to the decades-long decline in suicide rates. A new episode of the Eurofound Talks podcast explores these issues, highlighting that vulnerable groups are being disproportionately affected. It also discusses how significant barriers to mental healthcare—such as stigma and long waiting lists—are leaving many without vital support.
LISTEN FOR FREE

Foundation for European Progressive Studies Advertisement

Spring Issues

Join the conference “Healthy mind, stronger Europe”

On World Mental Health Day, 10 October, join us for the conference “Healthy mind, stronger Europe”, where we’ll put forward real, progressive solutions.
Despite growing awareness of its impact on all our lives, mental health has yet to gain the momentum it deserves in EU policymaking. The latest EU budget and Commission mandate still fall short on policy work on mental health that reflects progressive values - including gender mainstreaming.
Bringing together policymakers, practitioners, academics and civil society, this event presents the results of three expert groups that have been working on concrete recommendations.

REGISTER

Hans Böckler Stiftung Advertisement

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

S&D Group in the European Parliament advertisement

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

ADAPT advertisement

Cohesion Policy


In a context of growing direct employee voice in workplace innovation processes, the BroadVoice project explored how worker representatives and industrial relations can play a role in these dynamics. Based on a two-year study in 24 workplaces across six European countries, this comparative report, edited by Vassil Kirov (IPS-BAS) and Ilaria Armaroli (ADAPT), highlights the evolving contours of workplace democracy shaped by the involvement of worker representation in employee-driven innovation.

READ THE REPORT HERE

ETUI advertisement

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

Our Mission

Team

Article Submission

Advertisements

Membership

Politics Archive

Economy Archive

Society Archive

RSS Feed

Legal Disclosure

Privacy Policy

Copyright

Social Europe ISSN 2628-7641

Copyright Social Europe Publishing & Consulting GmbH 2025
  • YouTube
  • Podcast
  • eBooks
  • Newsletter
  • Membership