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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.

Europe’s Energy Divide: Why the Green Transition Risks Leaving Half the Continent Behind

Dario Guarascio, Jelena Reljic and Francesco Zezza

As fossil fuel dependency threatens sovereignty, the EU's fragmented response deepens existing inequalities.

Reclaiming Sutan Sjahrir: The Quiet Moral Core of Democratic Socialism in Southeast Asia

Deny Giovanno

Sutan Sjahrir, Indonesia’s first Prime Minister, offers a forgotten blueprint for ethical leadership.

Housing Crisis Threatens to Fracture Central and Eastern Europe

Jeffrey Sommers, Daniel Pop and Cosmin Marian

A lack of affordable housing in urban centres is driving political instability across Central and Eastern Europe.

Europe’s Perilous Path: It’s a Rush Before the Crash

Jan Zielonka

Europe is on a self-destructive course with no plausible remedies for mounting problems. The result is widespread uncertainty, helplessness and fear.

The EU’s Landmark Mercosur Deal Promises Much But Delivers Little

Simela Papatheophilou, Werner Raza and Bernhard Tröster

The revised EU-Mercosur trade deal offers limited economic benefits for Europe, while its environmental provisions may undermine the bloc’s climate ambitions.

Will Denmark Lead Europe Towards a Super-Rich Tax?

Isabelle Brachet

Despite past failures, growing public support and recent international initiatives offer Copenhagen an opportunity to push for wealth taxation.

Britain Rediscovers Europe as Macron and Merz Lead a Democratic Reawakening

Polly Toynbee

With Trump looming and war in Europe, Britain finds renewed purpose in unity with France and Germany.

Europe’s Appeasement Dilemma: The Price of Standing Against Putin

Frank Hoffer

While the West rightly resists Russian aggression, European leaders risk self-respect and global standing by appeasing Donald Trump.

Europe’s Far Right Copies Trump—And It’s Working

Paul Mason

Leaked plans show Germany’s far right plotting a radical power grab with global implications.

America’s Systemic Chaos Strategy: Europe Must Forge a New Path

Mario Pianta

The United States' latest tariffs on Europe and Mexico demand a bold European response to reshape the global order.

The Competitiveness Trap: Why Only Shared Prosperity Delivers Economic Strength—and Resilience Against the Far Right

Marija Bartl

Europe’s pervasive far-right challenge is enduring.

The End of an Era: What’s Next After Globalisation?

Apostolos Thomadakis

The age of global consensus has ended, demanding a new, strategic, and resilient approach to globalisation.

Germany’s Subcontracting Ban in the Meat Industry

Şerife Erol, Anneliese Kärcher, Thorsten Schulten and Manfred Walser

A landmark German law has drastically improved working conditions in the meat industry.

EU’s New Fiscal Rules: Balancing Budgets with Green and Digital Ambitions

Philipp Heimberger

The recently enacted EU fiscal framework aims for fiscal prudence but poses challenges for funding the green and digital transition.

The Dangerous Metaphor of Unemployment “Scarring”

Tom Boland and Ray Griffin

The concept of "scarring" in unemployment policy is a misleading metaphor with significant, negative consequences for individuals.

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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.

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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.

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