Social expenditure in Poland appears to increase regional employment disparities. In particular, the farmers' social fund (KRUS) seems to contribute to the rising regional dispersion in the number of recipients of social transfers. This is the result of KRUS benefits being poorly related to...

Many people in Europe do not receive the social benefits to which they are entitled. This is the case across countries and for many types of benefits. Addressing this ‘non-take-up’ of benefits is critical for two key reasons: benefits do not fulfil their objective if they do not reach the...

Youth unemployment policy has tended to focus on two groups: young people with low educational attainment and those with higher education who have failed to find work. However, there is a large group of middle attainers who tend to be overlooked by policy – young people who have completed...

This Regional Strategy Paper (RSP), the second for Mercosur, provides a strategic framework for EC cooperation with Mercosur for the period 2007-2013. The RSP has been prepared following a consultation process involving Mercosur member states and civil society actors. EC-Mercosur relations are...

Research into the importance of social and economic cohesion policies in the context of the new financial framework 2014-2020 and the impact that trade union organisations could have in this process.

The SOC Section deals with a broad range of policy areas including employment and working conditions, social policy and integration, gender equality, disability issues, public health, justice and home affairs (including immigration), and education and training. The section’s activities cover...

In 2008, the SOC Bureau decided to set out a relatively comprehensive strategy for the work of the SOC Section during the 2008-2010 mandate. The purpose of this strategy was to a) structure the work of the Section in order to make it more forceful and find priorities for actions and...

Inspired by a European spirit, the EU's national economic and social councils and the EESC worked together tirelessly to create a European network of economic and social councils. Thanks to the commitment of the presidents and members of all the councils, the network has helped forge systematic...