Främja social sammanhållning och konvergens

Viktiga politiska budskap

De viktigaste resultat som framkommit från Eurofounds forskning utgör underlag för beslutsfattare så att de kan ta itu med några av de viktigaste frågorna inom detta område.

• Hållbar ekonomisk och social konvergens är av central betydelse för en hållbar stabilitet i EU och kräver en integrerad europeisk strategi.
• Skillnader i ekonomiska och sociala resultat mellan medlemsstaterna äventyrar gemensamt välstånd och anständiga levnads- och arbetsvillkor och därför är det nödvändigt att övervaka konvergenstrenderna i EU och genomföra politikiska strategier för att undvika dessa skillnader.
• Före covid-19 hade EU upplevt sex år av oavbruten ekonomisk tillväxt, absorberat effekterna av krisen 2008 och registrerat uppåtgående konvergens inom områden som sysselsättning och risk för fattigdom. Men inte alla medlemsstater gynnades på samma sätt och de regionala skillnaderna ökade.
• Covid-19-pandemin riskerar att ytterligare öka ojämlikheten mellan medlemsstaterna och mellan socioekonomiska grupper. Den kommer att testa medlemsstaternas ekonomiska och sociala motståndskraft mot risken för ekonomiska och sociala skillnader i Europeiska unionen. Dessa växande skillnader kan också påverka stabiliteten i EU och understryker behovet av att fullt ut genomföra den europeiska pelaren för sociala rättigheter och att tydligt informera EU-medborgarna om dessa åtgärder.
• Att upprätthålla medborgarnas förtroende för nationella institutioner och EU-institutioner måste fortsätta att stå i centrum i kristider, eftersom efterlevnaden av åtgärderna för att bekämpa covid-19 i hög grad är beroende av förtroendet för institutioner och vetenskaplig rådgivning. Det ökade förtroende för institutioner som rapporterades av de svarande som fått ta del av stödåtgärderna sänder också ett tydligt budskap till de nationella regeringarna och EU.

During 2021–2024, Eurofound will provide an important insight into the challenges and prospects in the area of social cohesion and convergence in the EU, helping to ensure its economies and societies are resilient to future shocks. Eurofound will expand on its work from previous years on the upward convergence theme, with particular emphasis on the potential rise of new inequalities among citizens and how to address the increased challenges to social cohesion brought about by the crisis. The Agency will report regularly on trends in upward convergence in the socioeconomic dimension, as well as in the dimensions outlined in the European Pillar of Social Rights at Member State and regional levels, while also comparing the EU with other developed countries.

In exploring the drivers and implications of economic and social convergence, Eurofound will pay attention to a range of factors: social investment, mobility and institutional frameworks, regulation, welfare systems, institutional quality and public services, social dialogue and structural reforms. The research will examine the effectiveness of the EU’s response to the pandemic for economic and social convergence. It will also consider the situation in the euro area, as well as focusing on the role of industrial relations processes in influencing convergence.

Eurofound will investigate the trends and drivers of social cohesion in the European Union, in particular examining how the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated existing inequalities or triggered new ones affecting society more broadly or specific groups of citizens. The analysis will focus on economic, social and health disparities, both in the labour market and in terms of access to and quality of crucial goods and services such as healthcare, housing, education and social protection. The link between inequalities, institutional trust and discontent will be studied. Other areas of interest include migration, integration and societal tensions.

The research results emerging from this activity will contribute to the work of the different services of the European Commission and the Employment Committee (EMCO), the Social Protection Committee (SPC), the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), the Council and the European Parliament, including in relation to the European Semester.

Eurofound’s research aims to assist policy action to support sustainable upward economic and social convergence, to reduce multidimensional inequalities and to develop initiatives to strengthen social cohesion, helping to address the challenges facing the EU and national levels brought about by COVID-19. By investigating the pandemic recovery programmes at European level and their effect on economic and social convergence, Eurofound aims to inform policymakers on ways to promote convergence and the effectiveness of various initiatives. Research on social cohesion is intended to advance the debate on ways to promote policies towards a fairer and more inclusive society.

The Agency’s work programme is aligned with the European Commission’s political guidelines over the next four years, directly feeding into a number of key policy areas aimed at creating a strong social Europe. In particular, the research links in with the EU objective of sustainable economic and social convergence and will seek to support the debate on the European Pillar of Social Rights, its implementation and monitoring role, as well as on the reform of Economic and Monetary Union. Findings on trust can contribute to the initiatives regarding the Future of Europe debate.

• European Commission: Priorities 2019–2024: An economy that works for people
• European Commission: Priorities 2019–2024: Promoting our European way of life
• European Commission: Priorities 2019–2024: A new push for European democracy

In 2024, Eurofound continues to study upward convergence towards better working and living conditions and stronger economic and social cohesion. The focus is on the potential rise of new inequalities and how to explain and address the increased challenges to the social cohesion of the EU brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Eurofound continues to report on the latest trends in and drivers of upward convergence in the socioeconomic dimension by updating and maintaining its dashboard of indicators and by providing regular annual updates at Member State and regional level.

Building on previous work on income inequalities and on the middle classes, research concludes on trends in this area, shedding light on the impact of the increased cost of living on different income groups, including the middle class, and households.

Eurofound provides new evidence on the role of human capital in inequalities across the EU, in particular its role in ensuring social cohesion and convergence. Alongside exploring stocks and flows of human capital across Member States, the study offers an insight into the role of education as a driver of economic and social convergence. 

New evidence also sheds light on the emerging challenges and opportunities arising from the high inflow of Ukrainian refugees to the EU, focusing on integration efforts at EU and national level, as well as the impact on public services.

A new project on the role of digitalisation complements Eurofound’s work on convergence and inequalities. This research analyses the long-term trends in the uptake and usage of digital technologies by EU citizens and the progress made by Member States in fulfilling the targets set in their recovery and resilience plans. It also assesses if digitalisation is a driver of economic and social convergence in the EU, with a focus on income, employment and poverty.

Building on previous work in 2019 and drawing on newer data, Eurofound aims to identify changes in overall wealth distribution during recent years and produce a more detailed account of the size and composition of the population with no or negative wealth, and of the asset composition of the wealth quintiles.

New research also examines the dynamics of social cohesion, polarisation in perceived trust in institutions and satisfaction with democracy in Europe. This analysis explores social developments that can lead to tensions, withdrawal or radicalisation, and the main dimension of the polarisation in European societies over the last decade. Looking at the 2024 European elections, the research investigates new forms of inclusive participation and their possible effect on polarisation.

• Data: Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey
• Resource: EU convergence monitoring hub