OSE started new research for the European Trade Union Institute aimed at developing a critical assessment of the welfare reforms adopted by the Member States in the wake of the economic and fiscal crisis. The research project embraces a larger set of policies: labour market policies, social policies (pensions), education, R&D, and public sector reforms. Some of these areas are typical examples of the so-called ‘structural reforms’ supported by international organisations and the EU.
Pensions
In spite of the current strong emphasis in all EU countries on means to tackle youth unemployment, the participation of older individuals in the labour market remains a significant policy challenge. This is due to the interplay of the current recession, the ageing of the population and the need to control public welfare spending (pensions, unemployment benefits and social assistance). In this context, the European Social Observatory has started a new European Commission-funded project, called Policies for an Aged Workforce in the EU (PAWEU). The project is coordinated by the Fondazione G.
The European Social Policy Network (ESPN) was established in July 2014 on the initiative of the European Commission to provide high quality and timely independent information, advice, analysis and expertise on social policy issues in the European Union and neighbouring countries. In particular, the ESPN will support the Commission in monitoring progress towards the EU’s social protection and social inclusion objectives as set out in the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Social Open Method of Coordination and the Social Investment Package.
EURELPRO (The European Association of Retirement Schemes for Liberal Professions) and OSE decided to conduct joint research in the field of pensions, with a specific focus on new challenges for tax rules regarding pensions.
The European Social Observatory (OSE) coordinates a new research on the social dimension of the Lisbon Strategy. In order to prepare for the Belgian Presidency of the EUin 2010, the Belgian Social Affairs Cabinet asked the OSE and the Center for Sociological research (CeSO) of the KULeuven to focus on two questions. First, to what extent did the Lisbon Strategy succeed in ‘balancing’ the three objectives of job creation, growth and social progress?
The European Social Observatory has launched research on "Ensuring an Adequate Pension in a European Context". The aim of the research is twofold: inform decisionmakers about the social consequences of recent reforms in the pension systems of 'old', 'new' and future EU Members States; and shed light on the impact of EU initiatives (OMC, legislation) in the field of pensions on domestic systems.
The European Social Observatory has launched research on "Ensuring an Adequate Pension in a European Context". The aim of the research is twofold: inform decisionmakers about the social consequences of recent reforms in the pension systems of 'old', 'new' and future EU Members States; and shed light on the impact of EU initiatives (OMC, legislation) in the field of pensions on domestic systems.
The European Social Observatory (OSE) coordinates a new research on the social dimension of the Lisbon Strategy. In order to prepare for the Belgian Presidency of the EUin 2010, the Belgian Social Affairs Cabinet asked the OSE and the Center for Sociological research (CeSO) of the KULeuven to focus on two questions. First, to what extent did the Lisbon Strategy succeed in ‘balancing’ the three objectives of job creation, growth and social progress?
Slavina Spasova, PhD in Political Science (Université Libre de Bruxelles, ULB), has been OSE's Director since 1st of December 2023. Previously, she was a Senior researcher (2021) and a researcher (2016) working in the area of social protection at the OSE. She is the OSE coordinator in the European Social Policy Network (ESPN). As such her research agenda focuses on various social protection topics such as protection for the self-employed, pension reforms, work-life balance, healthcare, long-term care, sickness benefits.
Team OSE
The Final Conference of the PROWELFARE research project will bring together researchers, policymakers and stakeholders to discuss the role of social partners in the provision of ‘contractual welfare’.