Social inclusion
Social inclusion is a process that ensures citizens have the opportunities and resources necessary to participate fully in economic, social and cultural life and to enjoy a standard of living and well-being that is considered normal in the society in which they live. It encompasses, but is not restricted to, social integration or better access to the labour market, and also includes equal access to facilities, services and benefits. It is a concept that is now central to the European policy agenda.
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Paths towards independent living and social inclusion in Europe for people with a disability - Background paper
This background paper looks at the EU policy context regarding deinstitutionalisation for people with long-term care needs, analyses trends and outlines strategies supporting independent living.Social cohesion and inclusive participation in a polarised Europe
This report investigates the dimensions of polarisation in Europe, offering a 20-year perspective based on data from the European Social Survey. It examines trends and national variations in polarisation on various issues, looking at how European values and attitudes have changed over time.Narrowing the digital divide: Economic and social convergence in Europe’s digital transformation
Digitalisation has been on the EU policy agenda since 2000. While great strides have been made in this area over the past two decades, the digital transformation is not yet complete. This report seeks to deepen our understanding of the evolution towards a digital Europe. By applying the lens of convergence, the report assesses the progress of Member States towards the EU’s policy targets, where Member States are growing together and where digital gaps are expanding. It also considers the gaps in the progress of digitalisation between socioeconomic groups and regions.
According to almost all indicators analysed, historically lower-performing Member States have been catching up with the digital leaders. However, at a more granular level, digitalisation of businesses has been uneven and significant inequalities persist between regions and socioeconomic groups. The report shines a light on the role of digitalisation in the EU’s economic convergence and considers the progress in and benefits of digitalisation for the private sector.
The findings show that access is still an issue for vulnerable groups, in particular low-income households, older individuals and those with lower levels of education. Importantly, these are the groups that are more reliant on public services, and they may struggle to access e-government. While progress is being made, some groups remain at risk of being left behind in the digital transition. Considering this, the report highlights a range of policy approaches being deployed across Europe that aim to narrow the digital divide.
Eurofound monitors social inclusion through its survey work and, in more specific studies, it explores and evaluates policy efforts to achieve greater social inclusion.
Social inclusion is at the core of the European Social Model and European values enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty. It is a cornerstone of the European Pillar of Social Rights and a priority of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Promoting social inclusion, in particular through the reduction of poverty, is at the heart of creating a more equal and cohesive society. Preserving and creating new jobs is also essential for social inclusion and active participation in society. On 4 March 2021, the European Commission presented its action plan to fully implement the European Pillar of Social Rights, turning its principles into concrete actions to benefit EU citizens, while also supporting the recovery from the impact of COVID-19. Chapter 3 of the Social Pillar focuses on 10 principles to promote social protection and inclusion. To reduce inequalities, the Commission proposes a new target for the EU to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030, including at least 5 million children.
The European Child Guarantee, adopted in June 2021, aims to ensure that every child in Europe at risk of poverty or social exclusion has access to the most basic of rights like healthcare and education.
The EU Youth Strategy 2019–2027 is about 'engaging', 'empowering' and 'connecting' young people and aims to foster the participation of young people in democratic life, support their social and civic engagement and ensure that they have the necessary resources to take part in society. The policy emphasis has been on promoting youth employment as the key pathway to achieving social inclusion, via measures such as the Youth Guarantee and Youth Employment Initiative.
The risk of becoming socially excluded is rising among older people in some countries and among some of those who have left the labour market. Long-term unemployment and job insecurity are leading to increasing inequalities and poverty risks among many older Europeans. In searching for measures promoting the social inclusion of the older population who have already left the labour market, more attention is being paid to measures encouraging volunteering, supporting social engagement in old age and healthy ageing.
European Commission: The European Pillar of Social Rights in 20 principlesopens in new tab
European Commission: European Pillar of Social Rights Action Planopens in new tab
European Commission: European Child Guaranteeopens in new tab
European Commission: EU Youth Strategy (2019–2027)opens in new tab
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28 January 2022
COVID-19 and older people: Impact on their lives, support and care
This report captures the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the quality of life of older citizens, including the impact on their well-being, finances, employment and social inclusion. It explores the effects on the use of care services and older people’s reliance on other support. The report presents policy measures that have been implemented in EU Member States to support older people along all of the above-mentioned dimensions. These include measures to support independent living and schemes to support the labour market integration of older people or to prevent unemployment, all of which play a role in the quality of life of older citizens.
9 November 2021
Impact of COVID-19 on young people in the EU
Following a long recovery from the economic crisis (2007–2013), young people in the EU proved to be more vulnerable to the effects of the restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Young people were more likely than older groups to experience job loss, financial insecurity and mental health problems. They reported reduced life satisfaction and mental well-being associated with the stay-at-home requirements and school closures. While governments responded quickly to the pandemic, most efforts to mitigate the effects of restrictions were temporary measures aimed at preventing job loss and keeping young people in education. This report explores the effects of the pandemic on young people, particularly in terms of their employment, well-being and trust in institutions, and assesses the various policy measures introduced to alleviate these effects.
8 December 2020
Upward convergence in material well-being: Is a COVID-19 setback inevitable?
The EU strives for the upward convergence of its Member States, where their performance improves and gaps between them decrease. Nearly a decade after the Great Recession, the COVID-19 crisis has again put this objective under pressure. This policy brief focuses on convergence in material well-being in Europe. Trends in several indicators largely follow the economic cycle, with upward convergence in good times and downward divergence in bad times. This could mean further divergence and polarisation among Member States as we face a new economic downturn, with the prospect of an uneven pace of recovery across countries when growth returns.
The policy brief presents an overview of policy measures implemented by the EU and Member States to smooth the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. It discusses EU coordination of minimum income schemes as a possible tool to limit deterioration and divergence in the indicators should the economy enter a downturn.
12 March 2020
Addressing household over-indebtedness
The issue of over-indebtedness continues to be a concern, particularly among some population groups and in Member States where recent increases can be observed. This report provides an overview of the main causes, triggers and consequences of household over-indebtedness, including the costs to society. It then examines two policy responses in the EU and Norway: debt advisory services and debt settlement procedures. While the findings show that in the wake of the global financial crisis, such services and procedures have generally become more widely available and accessible, gaps remain. The overall aim of the report is to draw the attention of national and EU-level policymakers to ways to improve policy responses to household over-indebtedness.
19 December 2019
Household composition and well-being
Demographic change, social progress and economic cycles have impacted household composition in Europe. This report provides an overview of household types in the European Union, how they have changed over the period 2007–2017 and how household type relates to outcomes in terms of living conditions and well-being – such as life satisfaction, the feeling of social exclusion and mental well-being. Changes in household structure have a potential impact on demand for public services and social benefits. The report also discusses the policy implications of changing household composition and recent policies responding to the increasing diversity of households. The report underlines the importance of recognition of diverse family forms, of the provision of social support, and of family policy measures complementing income support in reducing inequality of well-being among households.
22 October 2019
Challenges and prospects in the EU: Quality of life and public services
What have been the major developments in quality of life and public services in Europe in recent years, as captured by research into these areas in Eurofound’s work programme for 2017–2020? This flagship publication provides a synthesis of the main findings on several key topics, based, in part, on European Quality of Life Survey data. It maps developments and perceptions regarding the following: trust in institutions and social cohesion; access to and quality of health and care services; the impact of digitalisation on social services; access to services for young people; and measures aimed at integrating refugees. While the report highlights many challenges and emerging issues for public services, it also showcases a number of positive experiences with the involvement of client groups in the design of services and take-up of new technologies.
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Hans Dubois
Senior research managerHans Dubois är forskningschef vid enheten för socialpolitik vid Eurofound. Hans forskningsämnen inkluderar bostäder, överskuldsättning, hälso- och sjukvård, långtidsvård, sociala förmåner, pension och livskvalitet i närområdet. Innan han kom till Eurofound var han biträdande professor vid Kozminski-universitetet i Warszawa. Han avslutade en doktorsexamen i företagsekonomi och ledning vid Bocconi-universitetet (Milano), efter att ha arbetat som forskningssekreterare vid European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (Madrid).
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