Documents Foundation for European Progressive Studies, Brussels 72 results

"The EU's legally binding commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 demands a far-reaching socio-economic transformation. While the green transition promises sustainable prosperity, it also carries profound and unequal social and economic consequences. To meet this challenge, a just transition ensuring fairness, inclusivity, and social protection is essential and should be supported in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

The policy brief starts by analysing how the current MFF addresses eco-social risks, notably in carbon-intensive regions and vulnerable communities, through different instruments such as the Just Transition Fund (JTF), the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the ‘galaxy' of ETS-derived funds (Innovation, Modernisation, Social Climate Funds).

It further argues that, to improve how eco-social risks are addressed and future-proof the EU's just transition agenda, five policy goals should be central in the next MFF

(1) ensuring inclusive and participatory governance

(2) strengthening territorial resilience

(3) developing an eco-social security system

(4) preparing workers and communities for profound transformations

(5) investing in knowledge and governance capacity.

Finally, the policy brief proposes to achieve these just transition policy goals through combining different strategies: maintaining a dedicated fund for just transition, mainstreaming different just transition principles across EU funds and enhancing local knowledge and capacities. To be aligned with the European Green Deal objectives, the EU Budget must be steered towards the promotion of just transition goals in the EU. "

"This paper analyses how the financial reforms undertaken by the EU after the 2008 crisis have legally and financially limited the State in its ability to intervene in many areas as well as raising barriers to its protective role. It explores how the macroeconomic and financial architecture that was implemented subsequently placed the financial system and macroeconomic stability on the highest pedestal of European objectives, relegating the rest of the social objectives provided for in the Treaties of the Union to a second category of importance, always subordinated to the achievement of the former. Based on the apparent consensus that currently exists regarding state and European intervention in times of crisis, the essay highlights the reforms that should be undertaken in order to put social rights and welfare systems at the forefront of public policy in Europe. This essay outlines what type of mechanisms are necessary for the EU to be the overarching protector of peace, stability and the wellbeing of citizens. These proposals suggest putting into practice a system in which the Stability and Growth Pact is balanced to resolve its fundamental contradictions in terms of social and ecological justice. Ultimately, political will is the missing element in the equation in order to establish a new order that stops the bleeding of unsustainable public debt through tax justice and fair redistribution policies."

"The current health crisis has opened up a new understanding of the interrelation between humans, wildlife and our shared ecosystems and the meaning of well-being and healthy living. Consequently, a coherent and cohesive Green Deal that incorporates the social, environmental and economic aspects should be a central element of any recovery programme.

Moreover, the European Green Deal can help create new, quality jobs in sustainable sectors in a context of rising unemployment. However, for social benefits to materialise, the Green Deal must be designed and implemented by putting fairness and equity at its very core. This is the main added value of this report.

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is still unfolding, the relevance of the European Green Deal and its potential role in recovery plans is being heavily debated. While some have argued that it needs to be delayed or abandoned altogether, we argue in this paper that the Green Deal becomes an even more essential policy in the new context of recovery from the recession and provides an unintended opportunity not to return to the past and instead “build back better”. Conversely, the paper warns against an unsustainable recovery pathway which would waste precious public funds on shoring up the fossil fuel economy and lock Europe's youth and future generations into destructive high-carbon and unsustainable pathways.

In order to avoid unnecessary trade-offs between the recovery of economies, societies and ecosystems, operationalising the principle of “leaving no one behind” is paramount. This requires addressing the intra-EU, intra-country and intergenerational equity challenges that lie at the heart of the multiple crises."

"The European Union faces the twin crises of Covid-19 and climate change. Confronting both crises requires an unprecedented volume of public resources. The question of how to raise these funds without jeopardising a weak COVID recovery while doing so in a fair way without undermining broad political support for climate action, poses a major political and economic challenge.

Jakob Kapeller, Stuart Leitch and Rafael Wildauer investigate the potential of a European net wealth tax to raise substantial revenues while supporting the economy and the consensus on climate action. To achieve this, household survey data from the European Central Bank (covering 22 EU countries) are analysed."

"The COVID-19 pandemic facilitated a long-expected paradigm shift in the European Union's perception on health and healthcare. It has been proved that health policy decisions cannot be kept within a nation-state framework only, and that a new vision and strengthened community competences are needed to cope with public health crises.

Traditionally, EU member states have long been opposed to a greater role for the European institutions in health policy. Notwithstanding, growing disparities with alarming inequalities as to the health status of people across the 27 EU member states, and the differences in these people's access to quality healthcare, have the potential to seriously undermine the fundamental right to health.

The pandemic made it overwhelmingly clear that health is essential when it comes to the fair, resilient and sustainable development of our societies. Developing health systems indicators, a pharmaceutical strategy for Europe and a European cancer plan could be valid building blocks to construct a solid Health Union.

This policy brief presents the case of Hungary, with a look at its chronically underfunded and poorly performing health sector and an analysis of the national attitudes towards the European Health Union. Consultations with health professionals, local administrators and civil society evidence that the creation of a EU Health Union could contribute to catching up of the ailing national healthcare systems. A majority of the Hungarian society would see the European Health Union as a driving force to improve health outcomes in their countries and are supportive of more European integration in this domain.

Based on this, six areas of action are identified: planning, communication, joint research, equal access, primary prevention, and funding."

"To respond to the rising challenges of insecurity and inequality that plagued advanced capitalist countries in recent years, social democratic parties urgently need a new intellectual paradigm. Forging new ideas means being prepared to enter into dialogue with other political traditions. Overcoming political paralysis necessitates moving radically beyond stale and out of date “tax-and-spend” solutions to the economic and social problems of our age. That means forging a new approach to market capitalism that tackles concentrations of corporate and market power, governing in the public interest. It is essential to cultivate institutions between the traditional state and the free market that provide community attachment, respect for traditional roles, and a sense of mutual obligation. To find a path back to power, social democrats must combine a forward-looking agenda for inclusive prosperity with protecting the pillars of security that give meaning to our lives in an era of unprecedented instability and upheaval."

"2024 was announced as a ‘super election' year. In fact, about half of the world's population in 72 countries, from the United States to the European Union and further to India, went to the polls to elect new parliaments or presidents. This outstanding celebration of democracy, however, resulted in the advancement of reactionary or even extremist forces in many of the countries involved. Hence, for Progressives, the world being shaped is one that requires, more than ever, deep reflection on the reasons for the electoral shortcomings, a drive to innovate and cope with this changing political landscape, and the will to keep fighting for our values and ideals.

In this sixth edition of the Progressive Yearbook, FEPS offers analyses of the electoral results in the EU and the US, as well as of some of the political developments in the European continent and beyond, in particular on the war fronts in the European neighbourhood, Ukraine and the Middle East. We focus on divisive issues such as the common agricultural policy and migration. We look at how the new Labour government in the UK will impact the relations with the EU and at the state of social democratic forces in two EU member states: Croatia and Germany.

Finally, we will try to understand, based on current trends, what the near future holds for European Progressives and the EU's integration project.

With the mission of looking back to look ahead, the Progressive Yearbook focuses on transversal European issues that have left a mark on the previous year, and brings forward-looking analyses of the key political developments of the year ahead. It symbolises FEPS' readiness to put these issues into perspective."

"Deteriorating mental health has emerged as one of the defining challenges for Europe and its citizens in the 21st century. The COVID-19 pandemic, growing digital pressures, precarious labour conditions and the rising problem of addictive behaviour have underscored the urgency of a comprehensive European strategy. This policy brief demonstrates that mental health is not just a health sector issue, but a cross-cutting priority affecting productivity, social cohesion and resilience of both individuals and our society. The analysis reviews EU policy evolution, highlights progress with the 2023 Commission communication and identifies gaps where European action is most needed. Three key domains are explored: workplace wellbeing and mental health; impact of digital technologies on mental health; and the link between addictions and mental health. Each issue is also addressed through a gender-sensitive approach. Context, existing evidence, best practices and analysis are highlighted. Recommendations are presented under each headline. The policy brief concludes that the EU must advance a comprehensive mental health strategy, mainstreaming mental health into policies, supporting prevention and early intervention, introducing adequate monitoring practices, regulating harmful practices, and fostering coordination through a harm-reduction lens."