Society

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

France expects protests against Macron’s pension reform
For years, Emmanuel Macron has wanted to reform the French pension system and raise the retirement age. The unions are united in their opposition to these plans. The reform is to be presented tomorrow – and could trigger unrest like the Yellow Vests protests in 2018. continue reading →
Social Affairs Commissioner Schmit: ‘EU must take a stand on exploitation’
In an interview with Charlotte Wirth, EU Social Affairs Commissioner Nicolas Schmit explains why the EU is only now regulating the work of people who work for online platforms. The next big construction site would be algorithms. The Luxembourger calls for a definition of how far they can intervene in everyday working life. continue reading →
Slovak minority government loses vote of no confidence
Slovakia may face early elections after the conservative-populist minority government lost a vote of no confidence. Of the 150 deputies in parliament, 78 voted Thursday in favor of the move, which was tabled by the former ruling SaS party and the left-wing opposition.Prime Minister Eduard Heger was expected to offer his resignation to the president. […] continue reading →
EU Parliament supports protests
The European Parliament expressed its support for the white-paper protests in China, making it the first Brussels institution to take a position on the protests in the People’s Republic at the end of November. MEPs voiced their solidarity with the protesters in a resolution adopted on Thursday. They said there was concern about how participants […] continue reading →
Government crisis in Bulgaria: non-partisan cabinet nominated
To resolve the political crisis in the EU country of Bulgaria, Nikolay Gabrovski, who has been tasked with forming a government, has proposed a non-partisan, pro-Western cabinet. Gabrowski, who does not belong to a party, was nominated as prime minister by the center-right election winner GERB, nominated mainly experts for his government on Monday. This […] continue reading →
Clara Föller – a young voice for a united Europe
It was at an event organized by the German Federal Youth Council in Berlin where Clara Föller first heard about the Young European Federalists (JEF). “At the time, I was still politically homeless,” the 29-year-old says. She had long been searching for a way to become active, but she couldn’t identify with a party.That evening, […] continue reading →
Social redistribution of Mafia property: France takes after Italy
What to do with money, goods, real estate and agricultural land seized from the Mafia? Italy has already been redistributing former Mafia property for many years and putting it to social use. France is now following suit. continue reading →
Finance ministers must decide on billion-euro freeze for Hungary
In the dispute over the rule of law, the EU Commission recommends freezing more than €13 billion. Now the ball is in the Ecofin Council's court. However, not everyone there is in a hurry. At stake is the Union's credibility, but also its ability to act. continue reading →
Platform work: Parliament forges first compromises
In the future, it will not be the employees who have to prove whether an employment relationship exists, but Google, Uber and Co.: At the heart of the proposal to improve the situation of platform workers is the reversal of the burden of proof. Because the devil is in the details, however, the deliberations of Parliament and the Council are taking an unexpectedly long time. continue reading →
Didier Reynders – ‘Rule of law is not a matter of compromise’
Didier Reynders keeps chatting in the backseat of his limousine during the video interview – the 64-year-old Belgian is currently on his way from Brussels to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Reynders has a lot to talk about. He already had a long career as a minister in Belgium before becoming Ursula von der Leyen’s […] continue reading →
Migration pact to be revived
Since the pressure on migration routes is increasing, the calls for reform of the European asylum and migration system are getting louder again. But negotiations are slow, and a further tightening of EU migration policy is on the horizon. continue reading →
EU quota for women in supervisory boards adopted
From 2026, a quota for more women at the top of listed companies will apply in the EU. As the institution announced, the EU Parliament adopted a corresponding law on Tuesday. Since the member states have also already approved it, the way is now clear. EU countries must transpose the provisions into national law within […] continue reading →
Media Freedom Act: Is Brussels abolishing press freedom?
The Commission wants to create a kind of supervisory authority for the media at EU level as part of the Media Freedom Act, criticize Helmut Verdenhalven and Philippe Meistermann of the BDZV. In doing so, it is breaking with central principles of press freedom. continue reading →
France: Bardella replaces Le Pen as party leader
Jordan Bardella is the new leader of the right-wing nationalist Rassemblement National (RN). He replaced the previous leader Marine Le Pen at a party conference in Paris on Saturday. For the first time in the party’s 50-year history, it is no longer led by a member of the Le Pen family.Bardella was already Interim Head […] continue reading →
Short-term rental: new rules for Airbnb and Expedia
Travelers appreciate the opportunity to spend the night cheaply in private apartments. However, many cities complain about the negative consequences of short-term rental. Now the Commission presents its short-term rental regulatory proposal. continue reading →
Agreement on new coalition in Latvia
In Latvia, a new governing alliance is in place just over a month after the parliamentary elections. The liberal-conservative Jaunā Vienotība party of Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, the centrist-conservative United List electoral alliance and the national-conservative National Alliance signed a memorandum on a coalition in Riga on Thursday. The tripartite alliance comes to a majority […] continue reading →
Denmark: Frederiksen begins exploratory talks
Denmark’s resigned Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been given the task of exploring ways to form a new government. She will initiate the negotiations on Friday and invite all parties as well as representatives from Greenland and the Faroe Islands to her official residence in Marienborg, north of Copenhagen, the 44-year-old Social Democrat told TV2 […] continue reading →
Elections in Denmark: Social Democrats in the lead
According to initial forecasts, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats will once again be the strongest force in Denmark’s parliamentary elections. However, post-election polls by the broadcasters DR and TV2 on Tuesday evening pointed to a complicated race for majorities – it is thus open whether Frederiksen can continue to govern. The new party of […] continue reading →