The present study was conducted as part of a wider evidence gathering by the Commission on geo-blocking as a barrier to online cross-border trade in the European Digital Single Market. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of geo-blocking...

Autorenabstract: Description of the action Definitions Local shops: shops selling everyday goods and services intended for individual consumers in an area serving a limited number of customers. Disadvantaged rural areas: rural areas where public authorities provide financial support to encourage...

Das vorliegende Bulletin gibt einen Überblick über die aktuellen Entwicklungen in Bezug auf die Arbeitszeit im Einzelhandelssektor in Europa. Zudem werden anstehende Probleme näher betrachtet und praktische Informationen hinsichtlich der Organisation der Zeit angeboten. Zwei zusätzliche...

This report gives an overview of working conditions, job quality, workers’ health and job sustainability in the retail sector (NACE 47). It is based mostly on the fifth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), which gathers data on working conditions and the quality of work across 34...

With very low unemployment, a large and stable current account surplus, low government debt and a budget in surplus, the Dutch economy was assessed initially to be relatively well prepared to weather the financial and economic crisis. In 2008, however, the negative effects of the financial...

The financial crisis may pose a risk as well as offer an opportunity for the European defence sector: on the one hand, it sounds plausible that shrinking budgets increase the pressure on member states to cooperate and thus overcome the EU’s problems related to capability development and...

Overall, household debt levels have risen sharply over the past decades in EU Member States. While certain levels of household debts can be beneficial, they can become problematic especially with a sudden, unexpected decrease of incomes or increase of expenditures. The current financial crisis...

Household over-indebtedness is among the causes of the current financial crisis. In turn, the crisis exacerbated both public and private debt problems. In this paper, household over-indebtedness is broadly defined as the situation where a household cannot comply with payment requirements –...

This case study focuses on the measures used by ArcelorMittal to cut costs and avoid involuntary redundancies during the crisis in its largest Romanian subsidiary. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of the various measures applied to keep staff in employment and to ensure the company’s...

This report focuses on how Dexia Bank Belgium has responded to the considerable challenges resulting from the financial and economic crisis, and how the transformation of its workforce has been managed under these circumstances. It specifically emphasises the role of the social partner...