Search

FEPS Newsletter 1 Sept 2023 – We are back!

📅 FEPS Newsletter: we are back! Share Tweet Share Share Western Balkans, gender, Sahel, employment, […]
All Topics
Search topic

01/09/2023
📅 FEPS Newsletter: we are back!
Western Balkans, gender, Sahel, employment, care and much more
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
Upcoming Events
Returning to work after the summer holidays is more appealing with the exciting rentrée agenda the FEPS team has prepared for you!

This summer, we travelled, in-person and with our minds. We went to the Western Balkans and got back with a fresh ‘Balkan Focus’ series: a dive into the current political developments of this region. As much as we like to look at their present and future, these countries have a past to learn from.

In the following days, among other activities, we’ll host public events on Sahel, care economy and AI in the workplace. Join us and stay tuned, many more will be announced soon!
The new Balkan Focus series provides background analyses on current political developments in the Western Balkan countries and the debate and process of European enlargement.

The policy briefs are published in cooperation with Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale (CeSPI) and Karl Renner Institut, in synergy with the Friends of the Western Balkan (FoWB) project.

The EU needs to reassess its regional engagement and provide a credible enlargement path for the Western Balkans.

What are the challenges and geopolitical shifts impacting the EU enlargement process for the Western Balkan (WB6) region? This policy brief also underlines the importance of including the WB6 in the EU for European security and stability at large. Read more.
POLICY BRIEF
Perspective on staged accession
By Sabrina De Silva

Find here a timely analysis of the most relevant proposals – developed both within the European institutions and by independent research centres – on the staged accession methodology for the EU Enlargement process toward the Western Balkans.

This policy brief also includes a summary of the discussion held at the network meeting of Friends of the Western Balkans in June 2023. It highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal developed during the discussion. Read more.
Dive down into Montenegro’s recent political history. From the loss of Milo Djukanović, leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists, in favour of Jakov Milatović, leader of the ‘Europe Now!’ Movement, to the consequences of this loss for the country’s commitment to EU values and its application for the European Union membership. Read more.

Stay tuned! Three more policy briefs of the ‘Balkans Focus’ will be published soon.
PAST EVENT
25-26 August – Korčula, Croatia
What lessons can we learn from the Balkan conflicts of the ’90s? Through a gender lens, we looked at this region hoping to find guidance for resolving the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Initiated in 2012, the Korčula School brings together women and men political leaders from centre-left and social-democratic parties, experts, political activists and feminists, especially from South Eastern Europe, to discuss gender equality issues.

Among the speakers that took part in the debate were Ann Linde, former Minister for Foreign Affairs for Sweden; Zita Gurmai, PES Women President; Maria João Rodrigues, FEPS President; László Andor, FEPS Secretary General; Knut Fleckenstein, FEPS Special Advisor on Western Balkans; and Laeticia Thissen, FEPS Senior Policy Analyst on Gender Equality.

📕Women in the Western Balkans were also the focus of our policy studies on the implementation of gender mainstreaming and women’s political participation.
Twitter
More info
Are activation policies aimed at removing barriers to employment and strengthening the connection between social protection and work life? Their purpose, and effectiveness have been subject to an ongoing debate. Critics argue that it can serve as a disguise for deregulation policies.

This study reviews the nature of activation reforms in National Recovery and Resilience Plans and observes that the Recovery and Resilience Facility helped trigger, or even amplified, essential welfare recalibrations. Read more.
In 2023, the Sahel crisis entered its twelfth year and took on a worrying new dimension and the new dynamics in place seem to have challenged Europe’s ability to act.
On this occasion, together with Fondation Jean-Jaurès and Istituto Affari Internazionali, we will analyse the implementation by the EU of its Integrated Strategy 2021 for the Sahel. With an approach based on true partnership and equality, we will examine the challenges and opportunities of the new regional context.
Register
More info
6 September – Online

Do you know how much the need for care is projected to grow with the EU’s population ageing?
According to projections, the total age-dependency ratio could accelerate acutely and is expected to reach 76.1% by 2050.

Our next policy lunch of the Care4Care series, organised with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the European Public Service Union, will discuss the importance of recognising care as a priority for EU sustainable investments.

If well managed, the care economy can generate positive economic impacts and become a major vector for sustainable growth.
Register
More info
UPCOMING EVENT
Led by machines
21 September – Stockholm, Sweden
With the computer revolution, the workplace has seen a rapid introduction of digital technologies for gig work, remote work, surveillance, and algorithmic management of workers.
This public launch of the FEPS-Nordics Digital Programme on Algorithmic Management and Workers’ Rights will bring together researchers, policymakers, trade unionists and other stakeholders from the Nordic countries to discuss the effects of digital tech on the nature of work itself across the labour market.
Register
More info
PROGRESSIVE PAGE
The wheels are coming off
By László Andor
Frans Timmermans has stepped down as executive vice president of the European Commission. Margrethe Vestager is expected to become the president of the European Investment Bank, and Jutta Urpilainen is going to join the competition to become Finland’s new president.
These commissioners used to be political heavyweights in their home countries before moving to Brussels, which was certainly good for Europe. But due to their simultaneous departure more than one year before the end of the mandate of this Commission, added by the constant speculation about Ursula von der Leyen preparing for Jens Stoltenberg’s succession at the helm of NATO, the Commission’s leadership capacity is dramatically dropping. It gives the impression of the wheels coming off, and that the achievements of this cycle on major policy fields could remain incomplete. Read more.
Photo credits: Shutterstock/ Alexandros Michailidis
Twitter
Facebook
Linkedin
Instagram
Youtube
Website
Was this email forwarded to you?
Subscribe


Copyright © 2023 FEPS Europe, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you participated in one of FEPS’ events and/or have registered for FEPS’ newsletter.
If you wish not to receive FEPS’ communications anymore, please click here: unsubscribe now





Email Marketing by ActiveCampaign
Find all related Progressive Post
Progressive Post
14/05/2025
Jaume COLLBONI

The housing crisis: cities at the frontline

The European Union is at a crossroads. We are living in a crucial moment, with […]
08/05/2025
Martin SCHULZ

The European miracle

Why Europe's future is built on the ruins of the past – and what is at stake today
06/05/2025
Marouane LAABBAS-EL-GUENNOUNI

Summer is coming, and we are still not ready to face it!

While in Game of Thrones the characters feared winter, in real life, we now fear […]
Find all related Magazine
Magazine
  • cover book

    #Issue 27 Progressive Post

#Issue 27

The EU in uncharted waters
  • cover book

    #Issue 26 Progressive Post

#Issue 26

Brace for impact
  • cover book

    #Issue 25 Progressive Post

#Issue 25

EU 2024: the unpredictable well-known
Find all related publications
Publications
See all
20/05/2025

Demonetisation of anti-democratic and extreme content

The proposed European Democracy Shield (EUDS) aims to fortify the EU’s democratic systems against disinformation, […]
05/05/2025
Policy Brief

Shaping a European budget fit for climate action and a just transition

The negotiations for the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) – the long-term budget at […]
28/04/2025
Policy Study

Housing as investment in Greece and Southern Europe

Private profit vs social value
22/04/2025
Policy Brief

Trade, trust, and transition: Shaping the next transatlantic chapter

Essays series by FEPS and Center for American Progress (CAP)
Find all related news
News
See all
25/04/2025

Call for tender – Editorial services for FEPS recurrent flagship publications

This call for tender was launched on Friday 25 April and will close on Friday […]
13/03/2025

Europe’s defence strategy must be peace-oriented

FEPS Position Paper on European defence
10/03/2025

FEPS reaction to the Roadmap on Women’s Rights

On Friday 7 March, the European Commission presented its Roadmap for Women’s Rights ahead of […]
27/02/2025

European roundtable of Progressive think tanks

The European progressive way in the face of Trump's and the far-right agenda
Find all related in the media
In the media
See all

Nem jó, hogy Magyarországon a szélsőjobb és a jobboldal versenyez

by Hírklikk 12/05/2025
“It's not good that the far-right and the right are competing in Hungary” Interview with FEPS Secretary General László Andor on KlikkTV (HU), featured in Hírklikk, discussing the rise of the far right in Hungary and the need for stronger progressive alternatives.

Rozdíly mnohým vyhovovaly

by A2 05/05/2025
"The differences suited many" In this article, László Andor, FEPS Secretary General, discusses the different challenges the European Union is currently facing.

Tévedés azt hinni, hogy Trump után visszatérhetünk a régi kerékvágásba

by telex 24/04/2025
“It’s a mistake to think we can go back to the old normal after Trump”. Interview with FEPS Secretary General László Andor in Telex (HU), where he discusses the global trade tensions triggered by Trump-era tariffs, the shifting US-China dynamic, and the need for the EU to develop a new strategic approach in a permanently changed world order.

Orbán’s stance on Ukraine pushes Hungary to brink in EU relations

by The Guardian 22/04/2025
News article by The Guardian (UK) quoting FEPS Secretary General László Andor, who highlights how Hungary’s obstructive stance on Ukraine is undermining vital EU unity and fuelling tensions among member states.