Trust in crisis: Europe’s social contract under threat
The corrosion of trust underlies many of the social pathologies of today—but there are solutions.
Society
Social Europe is an award-winning digital media publisher driven by the core values of freedom, sustainability, and equality. These principles guide our exploration of society’s most pressing challenges. This archive page curates Social Europe articles focused on societal issues, offering a rich resource for innovative thinking and informed debate.
Between the cracks: third-country posted workers
Effective transnational co-operation is required to protect third-country posted workers from abuses.
Sub-minimum wages: young people, old attitudes
Laggard European Union member states must act to ensure abolition of sub-minimum rates of pay.
In difficult times, social cohesion has improved
Inequality has been falling across Europe. But a backlash driven by fiscal ‘discipline’ and ‘competitiveness’ could reverse that.
Reclaiming time from its tyranny
We are running out of time on the climate crisis—yet ‘slow living’ is a key to its solution.
Adapting workplaces to climate change
To sustain healthy and safe conditions at work, unprecedented action is urgently needed.
Housing cracks: multi-pronged approach required
Europe’s housing crisis can be solved. But a range of policy tools is needed to do so.
EU climate ambition: ensuring it is lawful
NGOs have increasingly looked to the courts for action on climate change. Now the Court of Justice of the EU is the focus.
Europe’s social agenda: raising the game
The Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU has set the social-policy ambition for the next European Commission to follow.
Fossil-fuel power in Europe: the only way is down
For the first time, in the first half of this year wind and solar generated more electricity in the European Union.
The invisible victims of the climate crisis
It is time to open a discussion on Europe’s role in the protection of climate refugees.
Running towards inclusion: the power of sports
The Paralympics highlight the need for year-round activity to include people with disabilities in sports.
Neoliberalism is blocking green growth
Climate change is a global challenge, yet trade rules do not allow developing countries to break with neoliberal orthodoxy.
Social dialogue: defending democracy in practice
In the face of the threat from the far right, trade unions represent democracy’s strongest supporters.
Social Europe against all odds—but is it enough?
Ursula von der Leyen, reaffirmed, promised initiatives on affordable housing and poverty. Ending poverty by 2040 should be the goal.
How Big Oil gaslights Europe on climate policy
In the race against climate catastrophe, decades-old fossil-fuel-industry narratives retard the green transition.
Pornography, patriarchy and the western Balkans
Revenge pornography is rife in the western Balkans. Ahead of EU accession, abuse laws need radical reform.