The study on “How to implement key elements of the European Pillar of Social Rights: what is needed to guarantee a positive social impact” will provide the Workers’ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) with recommendations on effective implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Particular attention is given to the ways in which social partners and civil society could play an important role in consultation and participation, in particular through the EESC. The study focuses on three priority areas: fair working conditions, collective bargaining and wages.
Social protection
The OSE was awarded a new contract with the Belgian Federal Public Service Social Security with a view to writing the ‘International Digest’ for the quarterly Belgian Review for Social Security (RBSS/BTSZ). The digest will continue to provide a regular overview of international developments (EU, OECD, ILO etc.) that have a direct or indirect impact on social protection and social inclusion policies and debates. The RBSS/BTSZ is available online, in French and Dutch.
OSE researcher involved: Cécile Barbier
As part of the preparation of an Opinion on guaranteed minimum income at European level, the Workers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) contracted the OSE to conduct a study entitled “Towards a European Minimum Income”. The main objective of this research is to explore the feasibility of introducing a European instrument relating to non-contributory minimum income schemes for able-bodied persons of working age.
The European Social Observatory (OSE) took part in the project “Working for Equity in Health” whose objective is to identify and understand to what extent unemployment and social protection are determinants of health inequality, in Member States. The project, funded by the European Commission, included 25 organisations from 12 Member States; it was coordinated by HAPI (Health Action Partnership International) for a period of 24 months.
The Public Policy and Management Institute (PPMI) and the European Social Observatory (OSE) wrapped up the European Commission-funded assessment of the PROGRESS Peer Reviews in Social Protection and Social Inclusion.
The Public Policy and Management Institute (PPMI) and the European Social Observatory (OSE) wrapped up the European Commission-funded assessment of the PROGRESS Peer Reviews in Social Protection and Social Inclusion.
With a Master's degree in Social Sciences obtained in 1986 and in-depth expertise in applied socio-economic analysis acquired during his career, Ramón Peña-Casas joined the OSE in 2000. Since then, he has been involved in numerous projects examining the complex interactions between employment, social and social protection in the context of flexible governance methods implemented at European level.
Discussion 17.00–18.20 | Drink 18.20–19.30
Programme
Chair: Slavina Spasova, Director, European Social Observatory
OSE afterwork discussion
Danai Konstantinidou joined OSE as a Researcher in October 2025. Her research focuses on social protection, poverty, welfare states, and comparative social policy and policy evaluation, with deep expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methods. She is in the final stage of her PhD in Social Policy at the University of York, funded by the ESRC White Rose Scholarship, where she examines the impact of social transfers on income poverty and deprivation in EU member states.
Team OSE
Slavina Spasova is Director of the European Social Observatory (OSE) since 1 December 2023. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). Prior to her appointment as Director, she worked at OSE as a Researcher (2016–2021) and Senior Researcher (from 2021), specialising in social protection.
Team OSE