Social Europe articles on society

Europe’s lockdowns highlighted the right to housing—and its link to health and security. For many, however, it remains a distant privilege.

New EU digital rules need to tackle the business model of surveillance capitalism.

As the Social Summit looms, a step change in social and environmental rights is needed to realise the EU’s just-transition goal.

The distribution of coronavirus vaccine around the world is glaringly unjust. But many wealthy countries have an equity problem of their own.

European social dialogue fell into desuetude under the neoliberal Barroso commission. Hairdressers might just put some colour back in it.

Covid-19 hit societies in Europe rendered frail by austerity. Investment in public services and their workers is essential if they are to recover.

The pandemic has overshadowed, but not reduced, refugee flows to Europe. Damaging misconceptions of asylum-seekers haven’t softened either.

The Action Plan shows ambition on poverty, employment and training. But the concrete measures are not (yet) up to the task.

Rather than public institutions being limited to fixing market failures, organisations such as the BBC are also market shapers.

The stigma attached to democratic EU regulation by the ‘one in, one out’ approach must be replaced by a positive commitment to the common good.

The Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights could lead to a profound shift in the enjoyment of human rights in the EU.

Buffeted by the pandemic and by populism, the EU needs the European Pillar of Social Rights to become a solid anchor of security for all.

International co-operation is vital to make vaccination, as a public good, available to all.