Social protection

International Digest – Belgian Review for Social Security

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

Towards a European Minimum Income

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.

Working for Equity in Health: Developing Evidence for Country Strategies on Health Inequalities on Work, Worklessness and Social Protection - an assets based approach

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.

Mutual learning in the context of Peer Review in Social Protection and Social Inclusion Programme

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.

Mutual learning in the context of Peer Review in Social Protection and Social Inclusion Programme

Ramón Peña-Casas

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.

Team OSE

The role of the Belgian Presidency in promoting social investment and social protection at EU level

Discussion 17.00–18.20 | Drink 18.20–19.30

REGISTRATION FORM

Programme
Chair: Slavina Spasova, Director, European Social Observatory

OSE afterwork discussion

Danaï Konstantinidou

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

Denis Bouget

Research Associate

Ilda Durri

Ilda Durri started a new role as researcher in EU social policies at the European Social Observatory (OSE). Her work includes projects, such as on the impact of globalisation, digitalization, demographic changes, and climate change on labour markets and welfare states in Europe (WELAR); access for domestic workers to labour and social protection (ESPAN); transparency of social protection systems (ESPAN); digital labour platforms in the care sector (ORIGAMI); EU social policy developments (Revue belge de sécurité sociale).

Team OSE

Social protection