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Avatar photoPatrick ten Brink

Patrick ten Brink is secretary general of the European Environmental Bureau.

A new European social contract must be green

Patrick ten Brink

Civil society stands up for a European pact for the future—green, social and fit for a one-planet economy.

EU leaders may miss a rendezvous with history

Patrick ten Brink

The emerging strategic agenda for the next EU mandate reveals an ecological step backwards Europe cannot afford to take.

2024: a year that will decide the future

Patrick ten Brink, Faustine Bas-Defossez and Christian Skrivervik

The European Green Deal faces a fork in the road—between the politics of hope and the politics of fear—as the June elections loom.

Energy union: including the public imperative

Patrick ten Brink

Pursuit of industrial competitiveness and renewable technologies must avoid a backlash from disengaged citizens.

Backtracking on a green and just transition?

Patrick ten Brink and Faustine Bas-Defossez

The Granada declaration will signal whether Europe’s leaders can rise to the climate, biodiversity and pollution crises.

Nature Restoration Law: an opportunity crucial to seize

Patrick ten Brink, Faustine Bas-Defossez and Laura Hildt

The EU Nature Restoration Law has been saved but with its ambition deeply eroded—negotiators must restore its aspirations.

How to promote green industry beyond subsidies

Patrick ten Brink and Luke Haywood

The EU has more to offer green industry—a stronger regulatory framework and credible carbon pricing.

Progress and setbacks from COP27

Patrick ten Brink, Luke Haywood, Katy Wiese and Alberto Vela

The European Union cannot rely on the United Nations process to deliver and must reinforce its own climate efforts.

Green Deal: the light at the end of the crisis tunnel

Patrick ten Brink and Alberto Vela

The faster we deploy the European Green Deal, the quicker we become crisis-proof. Brussels must resist siren calls for inertia.

Pollution: no acceptable levels

Patrick ten Brink, Margherita Tolotto and Sergiy Moroz

‘Zero pollution’ is a very good goal for the European Union to adopt—but only if zero means zero.

Leaving behind the EU’s deadly addiction to deregulation

Patrick ten Brink

Better regulation is benevolent and participatory, cognisant of complexity and future-oriented. Deregulation it is not.

Returning our food systems to business as usual would be a historic mistake

Patrick ten Brink

Amid the coronavirus crisis, some are calling for a deferral of European ecological action. Yet unsustainable food systems are one source of new human diseases.

Eurofound advertisement

Mental Health
Is financial resilience and trust in Europe faltering?

In this episode of Eurofound Talks, host Mary McCaughey and senior researcher Eszter Sandor unpack the results of the 2025 Living and Working in the EU e-survey. While headline inflation has stabilised at 2.1%, the data reveals a continent gripped by chronic precariousness, with 57% of respondents now at risk of depression. Mary and Eszter explore how this economic insecurity is impacting institutional trust and democratic engagement.
LISTEN HERE

Foundation for European Progressive Studies Advertisement

The Great Unravelling

Read the book "The Great Unravelling"

The book "The Great Unravelling", edited by Patrick Diamond and Ania Skrzypek, delves into the impact of growing economic interdependence, free trade and technological change, which has led to new forms of political polarisation that seek to capitalise on and exploit the resentments fuelled by the rise of globalisation.
Featuring a stellar line-up of policymakers, experts and academics, the book assesses whether a viable compromise between globalisation and social progress remains achievable.

READ HERE

Hans Böckler Stiftung Advertisement

WSI Report

WSI Minimum Wage Report 2026

Minimum wage policy across Europe has shifted significantly, with many EU countries raising wages above average and anchoring them to adequate living standards. This trend is consolidating as countries increasingly adopt the reference values recommended in the European Minimum Wage Directive — recently upheld by the European Court of Justice.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

European Commission DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion advertisement

Social Europe

The European Employment and Social Rights Forum was back in Brussels and online on 3-4 March 2026

This year’s edition addressed the EU’s response to the challenges many people face today: the rising cost of living, job insecurity, and changes in the labour market. Opinion leaders, policymakers, businesses, academics and civil society are invited to explore bold ideas to support Europe’s greatest strength: its people.

WATCH NOW

S&D Group in the European Parliament advertisement

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

Growth and employment monitor

Based on recent research – notably from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), this Special Brief outlines key evidence on the economic, employment and social situation in the EU and actions needed to reinforce the EU by ensuring “Investment for a vibrant European economy and quality jobs”

READ HERE

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