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Politics

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 political issues, offering a rich resource for innovative thinking and informed debate.

The Worldwide March To Basic Income: Thank You Switzerland!

Philippe van Parijs

June 5, 2016 will be remembered as an important landmark in the worldwide march towards the implementation of unconditional basic income (UBI) schemes. All Swiss

A British Test of Reason

Jean Pisani-Ferry

If voters in the United Kingdom decide in the country’s referendum on June 23 to leave the European Union, it will not be for economic

On Unproductive Labour

Branko Milanovic

Today I read an article on shortages and economic collapse in Venezuela. The reason why there are huge lines in front of the stores was

Support For Brexit Is No Longer A Minority Viewpoint On The British Left

Imke Henkel

Among the British press, which overall shows a bias for leaving the EU, the Guardian is seen as one of the few papers with a friendly attitude towards

Towards A European Pillar Of Social Rights: An Opportunity Not To Be Squandered

Anastasia Poulou

In March 2016 the European Commission presented the preliminary outline of a European Pillar of Social Rights as part of the work undertaken towards a

The New ‘Pop-Nat’ Authoritarianism

Denis MacShane

The drift to illiberal Pop-Nat – populist nationalist – politics in Europe continues. Across the Atlantic Donald Trump exemplifies Pop-Nat politics. There is no sign that the

Europe 2.0? The EU After The British Referendum

Renaud Thillaye

For Brexiters, history is already written: the EU is on course to become a superstate. Britain had better jump off the train before it happens,

Transformative Platform Politics For The Digital Society

Marc Saxer

The more our societies diversify into a loose network of lifeworlds, the more important it becomes to find a platform to hold them together. This

Why The Universal Basic Income Is Not The Best Public Intervention To Reduce Poverty or Income Inequality

Vicente Navarro

There is no uniform interpretation of Universal Basic Income (UBI). The simplest definition may be that UBI is a public program in which the state

Democratic Primaries In The Shadow Of Neoliberalism

David Coates

The Democratic Party primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders is being fought in the shadow of “neoliberalism” – in the shadow, that is,

Political Instability Stems From The Diminished Importance Of The Left-right Spectrum

John Kay

Gordon Brown’s exchange with Gillian Duffy on the streets of Rochdale was a defining moment in the UK’s 2010 general election. It also revealed much

Europe Must Take Action To Protect LGBT People In The Workplace

Karel Fric

17 May is International day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people face distinct disadvantages in the labour market ranging

Social Democracy Without Social Democrats? How Can The Left Recover?

Neal Lawson

UK Labour has suffered another bad set of election results. But the failure of Labour is not the fault of the Corbynites or the Blairites.

The Turkey Refugee Deal: Europe Sells Out

Guy Verhofstadt

Europe’s refugee crisis is far from solved, but there are signs that the agreement finalized by the European Union and Turkey on March 18 is

If Europe Takes Trade Union Rights For Granted… We Risk Losing Them

Esther Lynch

Why, in 2016, has the European Trade Union Confederation found it necessary to start ringing alarm bells in defence of basic trade union rights in

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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

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.

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Ageing workforce
Watch Foundation Forum 2025 LIVE from Dublin!

Five decades after Ireland’s first EU Presidency and the founding of Eurofound, Dublin hosts a vital European debate on reconciling social progress with competitive growth. Join Taoiseach Micheál Martin, European Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, and author Daniel Susskind, alongside senior policymakers, social partners and civil society leaders, as they discuss Europe's technological, demographic, and climate challenges.

Watch the Livestream on the Eurofound website on 20 November, or sign up for the LinkedIn LIVE event.

SIGN UP ON LINKEDIN

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Spring Issues

Read the new book “Algorithmic rule”!”

The future is not simply digital; it is algorithmic. Read the new book “Algorithmic rule”, edited by Maja Fjaestad and Simon Vinge.
The book explores what can be described as algocracy – rule by algorithms.
We need a progressive algorithmic future – an alternative that resists surrendering sovereignty to Big Tech. Transparency is essential, but it is not enough; the deeper challenge is to ensure that citizens and workers themselves influence the algorithms that govern them.

This book is part of the FEPS–Nordic Digital Programme.

READ NOW

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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

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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

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