Fighting poverty
Tackling EU child poverty through Child Guarantee
Based on figures from 2016, nearly 26.4% of children across the EU are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, poverty or social exclusion. But the EU has one potential policy development to deal with this worrying trend, write Joanna Hofman and Katie Stewart.
A place for children in the EU’s budget
Last week, the Commission announced a budget that ‘’protects, empowers and defends’’. But who exactly are we protecting empowering and defending? Not Europe’s children nor their counterparts in the developing world. Children are not even mentioned in this proposal.
Market-making for Burundi’s farmers
One of the main causes of food insecurity for farmers in rural areas is limited access to agricultural inputs. Donors, NGOs and governments are using a variety of new tools to improve access to basic products.
Fuel poverty and affordable housing: Connecting the dots
There seems to be rising momentum to connect the dots between energy efficiency, fuel poverty and the EU's broader 2030 objectives, writes Sorcha Edwards.
Commission ready to boost cash support in humanitarian aid
The European Commission is aiming to boost the proportion of humanitarian aid it hands out as cash. But most payments are actually made by banking cards very similar to regular ATM cards.
Cash and non-cash assistance in humanitarian aid and development
Some 125 million people worldwide are currently dependent on emergency aid as a consequence of war, instability, inequality and natural disasters.
‘Let’s do our work’ on social policy, Juncker tells member states
Europe’s credibility hinges on national leaders agreeing social legislation that applies across the bloc, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Friday (17 November) at a summit with leaders from EU countries in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Juncker is ‘sincerely in favour of social Europe’
Jean-Claude Juncker deserves credit for making social issues a priority for the European Commission, Socialist MEP Maria Joao Rodrigues told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Healthy food offers healthy returns to all
Experts say all companies can benefit from encouraging healthier food choices, but businesses are still hesitant to make the investments needed.
Making Europe digitally fit
Time is at a premium and many people simply don’t have enough of it to shop, cook and eat healthily. How can new technologies induce change in the eating habits of workers?
Much ado about fish fingers
As European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered his State of the European Union address last month, there were several issues which sparked his passion. But one came as a surprise to the audience: fish fingers.
Food expert: There is a link between poverty and unhealthy diets
Working class people are being harmed as companies abandon free lunch programs, according to food and health policy expert Dr Martin Caraher.
Policymakers push for healthy eating choices at lunchtime
It can be easy to make the wrong food choices during your lunch break. But policymakers are trying to make lunchtime a more satisfying, healthy experience for employees.
‘Working’ toward healthy eating
People want healthy food. The question for policymakers now is, how do you make it most easy and cost-effective for them to get that food?
UN calls for global economic makeover to replace neoliberalism
The world must ditch austerity and economic neoliberalism and undertake a global "New Deal" to rebalance the global economy and achieve prosperity for all, the UN trade and development agency UNCTAD said in a report on Thursday (14 September).
Commission wants new EU labour authority to crack down on worker abuse
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker wants to set up a new EU institution to monitor how labour law is applied in member states. The Commission will outline its plans for the supervisory authority by the end of 2018.
It’s the housing challenge, Mr Juncker
Despite President Juncker's cheerful speech, actual recovery in the EU cannot be celebrated as long as it is confronted by an alarming housing challenge.
Estonian minister: The digital economy needs more social Europe
There needs to be an EU-wide solution to precarious app economy jobs, said Estonian Labour and Health Minister Jevgeni Ossinovski in an interview with EURACTIV.com.
Lead MEP: Macron’s campaign on posted workers could deepen east-west divide
The centre-right French MEP in charge of guiding the controversial posting of workers directive through the European Parliament has lashed out at Emmanuel Macron after he promised to strike a compromise on the legislation by the end of this year.
‘Demographic dependency’ casts shadow over employment report
Young people in Europe will be squeezed by shrinking pensions and demographic change, adding pressure to under 25-year-olds who are already weighed down by a stubbornly high unemployment rate.
How consumers and government can combat the shadow economy
Perhaps the clue is in its name but the shadow economy’s drain on economic growth and public finances can be difficult to recognise. And, unfortunately, consumers can often unwittingly contribute to its growth, writes George Simon.
MEPs: European funds for poorer member states must not diminish
Negotiations are beginning on the future of the European budget, which also includes funds financing cohesion policy. Meeting in Strasbourg, MEPs agreed they should not be reduced. Aktuálně reports.
Fighting poverty across Europe: What’s next for FEAD?
More than 120 million people in the EU are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. The Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth aimed to bring at least 20 million people out of poverty and social exclusion by 2020.
EU urged to allow vouchers as aid to the most deprived
A group of EU member states has urged the European Commission to allow the use of vouchers in distributing aid to the most deprived, arguing they help save costs and uphold the dignity of the people concerned.Supporter
Edenred is dedicated to design, develop and manage adapted solutions whose goal is to meet the employees’ needs. The meal and food vouchers system has been in practice worldwide for more than 50 years. Today, used by more than 43 million people every day in 42 countries, meal vouchers are part of their daily lifestyle, offering them administratively simple, cost effective and easy solutions that are highly motivational.
What are vouchers?
Social vouchers
Edenred has also been developing, on request, some programmes to assist states, public institutions and NGOs to develop their welfare policy in several areas through vouchers (be they paper, cards or E-vouchers).
Such smart subsidies programmes for public institutions, executive agencies and financial donors provide an alternative to distribution of social allowances in cash grants or in benefits in kind. They are tailor made and guarantee transparency and correct use in a dedicated network in areas such as food, education, agriculture, transport, health…
Click here to know more about voucher solutions in development and humanitarian assistance programmes.