Ursula von der Leyen—the accidental president
The State of the European Union address reflected a union buffeted by a series of crises.
Job quality: a sine qua non, not just nice to have
Elevating job quality by resourcing workers better is pivotal to addressing today’s workplace and societal challenges.
Europe’s food systems—long past their expiry date
To counter the threats posed to climate, biodiversity, human health and societal wellbeing, food systems need urgent transformation.
Air quality critical for social justice and the environment
New European air laws can save lives and help the climate. A key vote takes place in the European Parliament today.
Feeling the heat: Europe’s firefighters need support
Firefighter numbers have been cut, when investment—especially in prevention—is key to stemming Europe’s wildfires.
Collective bargaining: Romania shows the way
Romania’s recent law strengthening collective bargaining offers a way forward for the European Union.
Why labour can be in short supply
Improving job quality is key to addressing labour shortages In the European Union.
Social protection: enhancing benefit take-up
Europe’s social-protection schemes are full of holes, affecting the most vulnerable most—but they can be fixed.
Exchanging glances: Serbia seduces illiberal America
The government of Aleksandar Vučić is trying to clean up its image, Lily Lynch writes—without having to clean up its act.
Cutting methane emissions: greater ambition needed
A proposed EU regulation on methane emissions must be strengthened, not diluted, to address a planet on fire.
After the ‘Beijing consensus’
China’s development model has often been positioned as an alternative to the long-dominant ‘Washington consensus’.
Trade policy: a call for solidarity
The age of unbridled free trade is rightfully over. Solidarity should be the new leitmotif of trade policy.
Russia is winning the information war
In Europe the struggle by Ukraine has largely been seen as a defence of universal norms. But around the world that is far from universal.
Lean work and a narrowing path to ‘good jobs’
Work regimes are increasingly demanding. But ‘leaner’ does not mean ‘fitter’ for workers.
Europe must unite to stop deep-sea resource grab
The ban on deep-sea mining risks losing its traction—and Europe is divided on the issue.
Five years of ‘Fridays for Future’: what future now?
The movement is adapting its strategy to advocate for social climate policies.
Lachin corridor needs more than EU tunnel vision
If Europe does not wake up to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, it could be complicit in genocide.