Publications

This study focuses on the footwear sector, providing information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the organisations involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted and their capacity to negotiate agreements. The aim of Eurofound’s studies on representativeness is to identify the relevant national and European social partner organisations in the sector. This study identifies industriAll Europe, representing trade unions, and the European Footwear Confederation, representing employers, as the most representative European level social partner organisations in the footwear sector.

This background paper outlines the context for the issues to be examined at Eurofound’s Foundation Forum 2025. As the global order proves to be increasingly volatile, the European Union itself is undergoing a profound transformation in terms of its socioeconomic and geopolitical landscape. Enhancing competitiveness and ensuring sustainable economic growth are now at the top of the EU agenda.

This report focuses on the digitalisation of front- and back-office processes in monetary social benefits. In 10 EU Member States and Norway, a digital application is possible for all, or all but one, of the nine benefits investigated. In at least five Member States, paper applications have been discontinued for some of the benefits.