Social Policy in the EU

News and information about the European Union's social policies.

EU law to combat violence against women enters into force — 13 June 2024, 23:22 CET

The first ever EU rules on combating violence against women and domestic violence, which affects an estimated one in three of the 228 million women in the EU, entered into force Thursday.

Europe faces growing threat from combination drugs: report — 11 June 2024, 18:26 CET

Potent synthetic substances, new drug mixtures and changing patterns of use pose a growing threat in Europe, the EU's drugs agency said the European Drug Report published on Tuesday.

Facebook, Instagram under EU investigation over child safety — 17 May 2024, 23:39 CET

The European Commission opened formal proceedings Thursday over Facebook and Instagram may have breached the EU Digital Services Act in areas linked to the protection of minors.

New EU law tackles violence against women — 09 May 2024, 00:57 CET

The EU Council gave the green light Tuesday to a ground-breaking EU directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence.

Madrid region has highest life expectancy in EU — 16 March 2024, 00:31 CET

The region with the highest life expectancy at birth in the European Union in 2022 was the Spain's region of Comunidad de Madrid at 85.2 years, the EU's statistics agency Eurostat reported Thursday.

EU paves way for European disability card — 08 February 2024, 22:46 CET

The European Parliament and the EU Council reached agreement Thursday on an EU directive to establish the European disability card and the European parking card for persons with disabilities.

Large porn sites drawn into EU online content obligations — 20 December 2023, 17:33 CET

The European Commission named adult websites Pornhub, Stripchat and XVideos Wednesday as online platforms that now need to conform to strict content rules under the EU's Digital Services Act law.

"No place for hate in Europe" - EU unites against all forms of hatred — 06 December 2023, 21:52 CET

With hate speech and hate crime against Jewish and Muslim communities on the increase, the EU called Wednesday on Europeans to stand up against hatred and speak up for tolerance and respect.

Brussels asks Meta, Snap about measures to protect children — 13 November 2023, 18:55 CET

The EU Commission requested information from Meta and Snap Friday on measures taken to comply with obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA) related to protection of minors.

Highest life expectancy in Spain, EU figures show — 06 November 2023, 23:26 CET

Spaniards live longest in Europe, according to figures from EU statistics agency Eurostat, recording EU overall life expectancy at birth reaching 80.1 years in 2021, with two year declines in 2020-21.

EU looks to speed up access to social benefits from abroad — 06 September 2023, 23:03 CET

The Commission proposed to make access to social security services quicker and simpler across borders Wednesday, by making full use of digital tools, reducing administrative burden for citizens and business.

EU plans disability, parking cards valid in all EU Member States — 06 September 2023, 22:38 CET

The Commission delivered a legislative proposal Wednesday to ensure people with disabilities will be able to access special conditions, preferential treatment, and parking rights when visiting another EU state.

European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities - guide — 06 September 2023, 21:50 CET

The European Commission delivered a legislative proposal on 6 September that will facilitate access to the right to free movement for persons with disabilities, by making sure they can, on an equal basis, access special conditions, preferential treatment, and parking rights when visiting another EU Member State.

Digital coordination of social security systems in Europe - guide — 06 September 2023, 18:33 CET

The European Commission proposed on 6 September concrete steps to further digitalise the coordination of social security systems in Europe. In a dedicated Communication, it lays out actions to make access to social security services quicker and simpler across borders by making full use of digital tools, reducing administrative burden for citizens and business.

Sustainability, wellbeing at heart of Europe's 'Open Strategic Autonomy' — 06 July 2023, 21:42 CET

Sustainability and people's wellbeing should be at the heart of Europe's strategic foresight, the European Commission said on Thursday in its 2023 Strategic Foresight Report.

2023 Strategic Foresight Report - guide — 06 July 2023, 21:38 CET

The European Commission presented on 6 July the 2023 Strategic Foresight Report, which analyses how to put 'sustainability and people's wellbeing at the heart of Europe's Open Strategic Autonomy' and suggests ten concrete actions to achieve this aim.

EU moves to better protect vulnerable adults in cross-border situations — 01 June 2023, 13:48 CET

The European Commission proposed Wednesday new rules better protect adults in cross-border cases, and that their right to individual autonomy is respected when they move within the EU.

Commission proposals to better guarantee the rights of adults in need of protection or support in cross-border situations — 01 June 2023, 00:15 CET

The European Commission proposed on 31 May new rules aimed at ensuring that the protection of adults is maintained in cross-border cases, and that their right to individual autonomy, including the freedom to make their own choices as regards their person and future arrangements is respected when they move within the EU.

Harnessing Talent in Europe's Regions and the Demography Report - guide — 17 January 2023, 19:08 CET

The European Commission launched on 17 January the 'Talent Booster Mechanism'. This Mechanism will support EU regions affected by the accelerated decline of their working age population to train, retain and attract the people, the skills and the competences needed to address the impact of the demographic transition.

EU institutions agree deal to close gender pay gap — 15 December 2022, 22:36 CET

New pay transparency rules, agreed Thursday by the EU institutions, will empower women to enforce the principle of equal pay for equal work through a set of binding measures on pay transparency.

State aid boost for EU broadband networks — 13 December 2022, 23:53 CET

The EU Commission set out revised guidelines on broadband Monday according to which state aid measures are assessed to support the deployment and take-up of broadband networks in the Europe.

Revised Broadband Guidelines - guide — 12 December 2022, 22:47 CET

On 12 December 2022, the European Commission adopted new Guidelines on State aid for broadband networks ('Broadband Guidelines'). The new Guidelines update the rules on State aid granted by Member States for the deployment of broadband networks and the take-up of available broadband services to support the digital transition.

Brussels looks to strengthen equality bodies to fight discrimination — 08 December 2022, 21:58 CET

The Commission adopted two proposals Wednesday to strengthen equality bodies, specifically their independence, resources and powers, so that they can combat discrimination in Europe more effectively.

Equality bodies - Bodies for the promotion of equal treatment and non-discrimination — 07 December 2022, 23:08 CET

Equality bodies promote equal treatment by providing independent assistance to victims of discrimination, conducting independent surveys, publishing independent reports and making recommendations on matters relating to discrimination.

Trafficking in firearms — 27 October 2022, 18:33 CET

Firearms are the lifeblood of organised crime in Europe, as elsewhere in the world. They facilitate the trade in illegal drugs and trafficking in human beings. The supply of stolen, smuggled and converted replica guns fuels urban gang conflict. Firearms are typically used by all organised crime groups to intimidate and coerce their victims. The life cycle of a weapon begins with its manufacture. It is then traded and used, most of the time responsibly and for legitimate purposes such as hunting and sports shooting. At the end of its life it may be deactivated or completely destroyed. Criminals acquire firearms by exploiting vulnerabilities in this life cycle. They forge documents to enable false transactions, or they convert deactivated or gas and alarm weapons into operational. The EU is uniquely placed to help disrupt criminal markets through its laws enabling common EU standards, through funding streams, through police and customs cooperation and engagement with third countries and international organisations.