Economy & Jobs
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Setting up the European social economy to thrive
From idealism to action. Now, for the first time, the social economy and social investment have a seat at the EU’s policy table.Promoted content

European Association Summit – 10 editions of constant evolution
The European Association Summit has celebrated its 10th edition. A gathering aimed at education, networking, and discovery keeps being a strong signal that Brussels is the world’s capital of international associations and that it is a perfect ground for fruitful projects and connections.
It’s time for the EU to be closer to people
Giving cities and regions more power in the EU decision making process would help incorporating criticism of the EU more productively and thus be a good strategy against further alienation between the EU and its citizens, argues Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
No time to lose: EU focuses on vocational skills to deliver green transition
The European Commission is helping member states, companies, and workers to prepare for the massive effort of the green and digital transitions via a number of initiatives and platforms, with a particular focus on the labour market and vocational training. Commissioners Nicolas Schmit and Margaritis Schinas provide more details.Promoted content

SGI Europe: The EU institutions need to deliver on the outcomes of the Conference on the Future of Europe
With the Conference on the Future of Europe, the EU has completed a historical exercise of participatory democracy. Bringing together institutions, citizens, social partners and civil society, it provided feedback on our joint actions. And should lead to improving our common project.Promoted content

Excise hikes must be avoided to allow for a speedy post-Covid recovery
Though there may be a budding optimism that the worst impacts of the COVID crisis are over, for the many businesses put on ice by pandemic restrictions, the thaw will be long and gradual.
Inflation: The high price of Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels
The current rise in inflation is being driven by a rise in fossil fuel prices, and a tightening of the monetary policy by the European Central Bank (ECB) would not help against high prices and might even come at a great cost to the economy, argues Ernest Urtasun.
The Brief – Don’t bank on an ECB rescue from stagflation
Central banks in Europe always used to be dull institutions run by dull men in double-breasted suits, but over the last 15 years, they have acquired a reputation for interventionism.Promoted content

Platform work: Walking the line between technological innovation and protecting workers’rights
Balanced regulation is required from the proposed EU Directive on platform work to ensure the best outcome for platforms and workers alike. The diversity within the platform economy merits a considered and flexible approach to classifying labour.Promoted content

Financing the digital transition
The tragic war in Ukraine – and the many direct consequences it has on the whole European continent – naturally puts any other political priority into perspective. Nonetheless, the shockwave of the ongoing humanitarian, geopolitical and economic crisis reinforces rather...
Responsible sourcing of raw materials vital as fossil fuel era ends
Robust regulation is needed at EU-level to ensure that workers and the environment are protected during the extraction of battery metals, write Mark Dummett and Julia Poliscanova.
Ties with Europe are America’s geo-economic base
US President Joe Biden travelled to Europe this week amid signs that the transatlantic economy is proving remarkably resilient to disruptions generated by Putin’s war on Ukraine, the pandemic, congested supply chains, and energy price spikes, writes Dan Hamilton.
Against Russia and China, freedom should be the new business bottom line
You can’t get a Happy Meal any longer in Russia after McDonald’s closed shop. The latest apps are barred from the Apple store and a swath of international and European businesses are grinding their operations to a halt after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, writes Jonas Parello-Plesner.Promoted content

Towards more dynamic, inclusive and resilient labour markets in Europe
European social partners for the agency work sector propose recommendations to make European labour markets more dynamic, inclusive and resilient, in the aftermath of the changes that the Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced and accelerated.
Europe must do whatever it takes to save Ukraine
A group of ten European economists have signed a joint call urging EU leaders to impose further sanctions against Russia and restrain Moscow's actions in Ukraine without resorting to military means.
Before considering new debt, Europe should make full use of its common debt
Rather than issuing new debt to deal with the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine and to build a “European defence,” the EU should transform the residual loans of the Recovery and Resilience Facility into immediate transfers and grants to member states, argues Jérôme Creel.
Britain and Europe must engage with key emerging markets
The Russian invasion of the Ukraine will destabilise world trade just recovering from the pandemic. That means that the EU and UK should pursue new economic partnerships, argues Geoffrey Van Orden.Promoted content

On the copper industry’s commitment to social responsibility
While regulations are a key component to ensure sustainable corporate due diligence, members of the International Copper Association have been early movers in prioritising these concerns in their operations.
Fit for 55: A stepping stone or a stumbling block?
The path towards the digital and green transitions must be carefully charted and all legislation proposals within the Fit for 55 framework undergo a thorough competitiveness check to retain public and business support, argues Stefano Mallia.
The end of European naivety
The COVID pandemic has brought home the reality of the need for Europe to strengthen its industrial and technological base, write Raül Blanco and Maria Trallero.
Join forces at EU level for sustainable international supply chains
European business and union leaders need to work together to foster sustainable international supply chains, write Petra Bolster-Damen, Piet Fortuin, and Ingrid Thijssen.
High stakes for the future of European sustainable corporate governance
Europe needs a Copernican Revolution in corporate behaviour in order to tackle both the climate crisis and social disparities, write Wojciech Baginski and Katie Hill. To do that, the EU should start with clarifying the fundamentals of corporate law, they argue.
The digital euro concerns the whole society, not only finance
While the development of a digital euro offers new opportunities for Europe, they can only be seized if civil society can take part in this discussion, argue Tristan Dissaux, Jézabel Couppey-Soubeyran, and Wojtek Kalinowski in an opinion piece signed by more than 100 scholars and NGOs.Special ReportPromoted content
