How have different European countries implemented austerity measures since the financial crisis? Andrea Müller, Irene Ramos-Vielba, Werner Schmidt, Annette Thörnquist and Christer Thörnqvist write on developments within four countries: Germany, Spain, Sweden and the UK. They argue that there is little evidence to suggest that the failure to modernise the public sector in these countries was a key driver in the economic problems caused by the crisis.
Social dialogue is under great strain throughout the EU because of the economic crisis, with Eastern Europe particularly hard hit, says a report presented by the European Commission yesterday (11 April).
European Commission - Press Release - European Commission MEMO Brussels, 11 April 2013 (see IP/13/321) What is "social dialogue"? In general, "social dialogue" refers to discussions, consultations, negotiations and joint actions involving organisations representing the two sides of industry (employers and workers). It can take place at all levels (company, sectoral, regional, national, European) and either
The on-going economic crisis poses a serious challenge to the dialogue between workers' and employers' representatives and governments according to a report published by the European Commission.
D. Vaughan-Whitehead (Eds.) Geneva, International Labour Office, International Labour Office, (June 2012)Conference organized by the International Labour Office in cooperation with the European Commission, Brussels, 21–22 June 2012.