« Previous |
1 - 10 of 110
|
Next »
Number of results to display per page
Search Results
2. It’s the EU, Not Western Balkan Enlargement
- Author:
- Christine Hübner, Jan Eichhorn, Luuk Molthof, and Srđan Cvijić
- Publication Date:
- 02-2021
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Open Society Foundations
- Abstract:
- France is one of the European countries with the highest rates of popular disapproval of countries in the Western Balkans joining the European Union. What is this disapproval based on, and how important is the issue of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans for people in France? Using a combination of 2020 survey data representative of the adult French population and in-depth focus groups with French voters, this report offers a comprehensive insight into the views of the French on whether or not the countries of the Western Balkans should join the European Union.
- Topic:
- Diplomacy, Regional Cooperation, Treaties and Agreements, European Union, and Regional Integration
- Political Geography:
- Europe, France, and Balkans
3. Towards an EU Toolbox for Migrant Workers
- Publication Date:
- 12-2021
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Open Society Foundations
- Abstract:
- As part of its proposal for an EU Migration and Asylum Pact, the European Commission has pledged to present proposals on legal migration in 2021 to better match labour demand and supply, enable better, faster access to visas and work permits, and increase the intra-EU mobility of foreign workers. This report analyses the actions taken by three EU member states: Germany, Italy, and Spain. These countries have created or expanded labour migration pathways, regularised part of the undocumented population, and increased protections for some categories of migrants. The report examines how effective these different approaches have been and if there are lessons to be learned at the EU level.
- Topic:
- Migration, Labor Issues, Work Culture, and Migrant Workers
- Political Geography:
- Germany, Spain, and Italy
4. From Climate Change Awareness to Climate Crisis Action
- Author:
- Jan Eichhorn, Luuk Molthof, and Sascha Nicke
- Publication Date:
- 11-2020
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Open Society Foundations
- Abstract:
- This report charts attitudes on the existence, causes, and impact of climate change in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It also examines public attitudes to a series of policies that the EU and national governments could harness to reduce the damage inflicted by human-made emissions. Although a clear majority of European and United States respondents are aware that the climate is warming, and that it is likely to have negative impacts for humankind, this report finds there is confusion about the scientific consensus on climate change. This, the report argues, has created a gap between public awareness and climate science, leaving the public underestimating the urgency of the crisis, and failing to appreciate the scale of the action required.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Environment, Science and Technology, Fossil Fuels, Carbon Emissions, and Ecology
- Political Geography:
- Europe
5. Are Agri-Food Workers Only Exploited in Southern Europe?
- Publication Date:
- 07-2020
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Open Society Foundations
- Abstract:
- In recent years, several studies have reported on the exploitation endured by migrant workers in Southern European Union member states—especially in sectors such as agriculture and food production. However, there has been much less focus on the North. New research now shows that agri-food workers in Northern Europe also face poor and even abusive conditions. In this light, Are Agri-Food Workers Only Exploited in Southern Europe? focuses on production in Germany, Netherlands, and Sweden. These three EU member states have stronger social protections than Italy, Spain or Greece—yet the dynamics driving wage compression and the violation of workers’ rights are like those in Southern Europe. This publication provides recommendations on how the EU and national governments can act to make Europe’s agri-food system more sustainable, benefiting farmers, consumers, workers, and the environment.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Environment, Human Rights, Labor Issues, Sustainability, Farming, Exploitation, and Consumerism
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Northern Europe, and Southern Europe
6. Roma in the COVID-19 Crisis
- Author:
- Neda Korunovska and Zeljko Jovanovic
- Publication Date:
- 04-2020
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- Open Society Foundations
- Abstract:
- Roma communities in Europe face a much higher risk of death from COVID-19, as their situation, already marked by extreme racism and poverty, has been worsening in the last decade. However, the European Union member states covered in this policy brief—Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain—have not responded with proportionate support. This brief argues that the COVID-19 crisis and the EU’s recovery plan in response both present an opportunity to improve the conditions of Europe’s Roma—not only in terms of rights, obligations, needs, but in the interests of sound political and economic decision-making across the region.
- Topic:
- Economics, Health, Human Rights, Health Care Policy, Social Policy, Public Health, Pandemic, and COVID-19
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Spain, Italy, and Slovakia
7. Do We Need an EU Ethical Food Label?
- Author:
- Giorgia Ceccarelli and Daniele Fattibene
- Publication Date:
- 09-2020
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Open Society Foundations
- Abstract:
- Eradicating the exploitation of agri-food workers, promoting fairer food supply chains, and offering consumers effective tools to make truly informed food choices remain huge challenges in Europe. This report highlights the limitations of relying solely on food labelling schemes to meet these goals, and finds that voluntary certification schemes do not adequately enforce regulations or protect human rights. The report also argues, however, that the EU can use a number of tools to foster more just food supply chains, with ethical labels playing a role in that process as part of a “smart mix” of measures. The case studies in this report show that it is possible to have increased transparency in food labelling and supply chains, as well as better protections of workers in Europe and throughout the world. Additionally, the report explains how the EU can play an important role in providing food businesses with clear regulatory frameworks to ensure their operations do not harm workers or the environment.
- Topic:
- Environment, Health, Human Rights, Labor Issues, Food, Regulation, and Business
- Political Geography:
- Europe
8. Working Together to Address Health Workforce Mobility in Europe
- Publication Date:
- 09-2020
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Open Society Foundations
- Abstract:
- The free movement of people is a cornerstone of an open and integrated Europe. Yet the labor migration of Europeans from lower-income countries in southern and eastern Europe to higher-income countries in northern and western Europe has had significant impact on the workforce—including the loss of skilled health professionals in their most productive years. Indeed, since 1989, hundreds of thousands of European health professionals have left their countries of origin for more promising opportunities in the west and north. Denied opportunities for decent work at home, and recruited by countries facing their own labor shortages, their mobility is a byproduct of a failure throughout Europe to develop health workforces in an evidence-based and strategic way. Ultimately, this failure threatens the human right to health. This brief offers policymakers six key insights, drawn from a literature review and interviews with European experts, on the migration and mobility of health professionals. These insights are offered within a framework that prioritizes human rights, gender equality, and worker solidarity.
- Topic:
- Migration, Labor Issues, Health Care Policy, European Union, Economic Mobility, and Migrant Workers
- Political Geography:
- Europe
9. German Priorities for Africa during Its Presidency of the EU Council
- Author:
- Bram Dijkstra and Marta Martinelli
- Publication Date:
- 09-2020
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Open Society Foundations
- Abstract:
- 2020 is a pivotal year for EU-Africa relations. Germany’s presidency of the EU Council provides an opportunity to address structural challenges—such as health care infrastructure, food provision, and managing the refugee and migration crises—revealed by the current COVID-19 crisis. The policy brief details Germany’s ambitions to foster a new partnership with Africa and offers recommendations in three priority areas: health care policy, economic development, and democratic governance.
- Topic:
- Agriculture, Diplomacy, Migration, Food, Health Care Policy, Refugees, Refugee Crisis, and Economic Development
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Germany
10. The Modern Agreement of Amity and Commerce: Toward a New Model for Trade Agreements
- Author:
- Beth Baltzan
- Publication Date:
- 10-2020
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Open Society Foundations
- Abstract:
- Around the world, the process of economic globalization is under fire for serving the needs of corporate elites rather than ordinary citizens. But it is important to recall that trade does not have to aggravate inequality. The rules of globalization matter. If we have better rules for trade, trade will produce better results. In this paper, Beth Baltzan, a trade lawyer with extensive experience in government, proposes a new paradigm for a more equitable trading regime—outlining the key elements of an agreement with the overarching purpose of fostering positive relations between like-minded parties.
- Topic:
- Globalization, Economic Inequality, Trade, and Trade Policy
- Political Geography:
- Global