SOCIAL INCLUSION

Significant regional disparities in terms of social inclusion of people with disabilities persist within the EU, with varying levels of accessibility, support services, and employment opportunities across member states and regions.

FOREIGN POLICY

In its relations with third countries, The EU bears the responsibility to safeguard democratic values globally, promoting and protecting fundamental rights, the rule of law, and democratic institutions to foster stability, peace, and the respect for human rights beyond its borders.

CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT

Human development plays a crucial role in making the green transition attainable and sustainable by fostering education, equitable access to resources, and empowering communities to participate in and benefit from environmentally-friendly practices and technologies.

HEALTH

During the pandemic, the EU faced a trade-off between effectively managing the health emergency and respecting budgetary constraints. 

MIGRATION

The ongoing debate at EU level centers around whether there should be a Europe-wide search-and-rescue operation for migrants, considering the humanitarian imperative, while concerns arise over the ethical implications of providing new patrol boats to Libya despite documented human rights violations by the Libyan coast guard.

THE DARK SIDE OF AI: THE HUMAN COST OF AUTOMATED BORDER CONTROL

The ethical cost of Artificial Intelligence tools has triggered heated debates in the last few months. From chatbots to image generation software, advocates and detractors have been debating the technological pros and societal cons of the new technology.

In two recently-published reports, EuroMed Rights, Statewatch and independent researcher Antonella Napolitano have investigated the human and financial costs of AI in migration.

The reports show how the deployment of AI to manage migration flows actively contribute to the instability of the Middle East and North African region as well as discriminatory border procedures and the deaths of thousands each year.

RAINBOW CITIES

The Rainbow Cities Network is an interactive, loving and inspiring place to discuss, exchange and work together on increasing social inclusion and equality for all.

The first EuroPride – a pan-European event to celebrate Europe's LGBTQ+ community – was held in London in 1992.

The 29th edition of the event will take place in Valletta, Malta, in September. The tiny Mediterranean island is – according to the ILGA Europe Rainbow Europe index – the best place in Europe for LGBTI+ people. Legislatively it is far ahead of many other European nations, and the Maltese are welcoming and accepting of LGBTI+ people from far and wide. Malta Pride are organising a varied and comprehensive EuroPride, which recognises the strategic importance of Malta in dealing with the current refugee crisis.

This map indicates the European cities that have hosted at least one EuroPride between 1992 and 2023.

OECD JOB MARKETS REMAIN TIGHT THOUGH INFLATION IS HITTING REAL WAGES

OECD job markets remain tight even though the global economy has slowed substantially since 2021. Employment has fully recovered since the COVID-19 crisis and unemployment is at its lowest level since the early 1970s. While nominal hourly wages have risen, to date they have not kept up with inflation, leading to a drop in real wages in almost all OECD countries.

The OECD Employment Outlook 2023 says that OECD-wide employment is projected to keep expanding in 2023 and 2024. In May 2023, the OECD unemployment rate remained at its record low of 4.8% for the third consecutive month. The unemployment rate was stable compared with April 2023 in 14 OECD countries including France, Germany and Japan, while it declined in 13 including Austria, Colombia, Greece, Italy and Norway. However, it rose in 5 OECD countries including Canada and the United States.

The OECD-wide unemployment rate is expected to increase slightly to 5.2% by the fourth quarter of 2024, though with relatively larger rises of around 0.75 percentage point or more expected in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Real hourly wages have fallen in many industries and OECD countries, and the cost of living has risen. In the first quarter of 2023, despite the pick-up in nominal wages, real annual wage growth was negative in 30 of the 34 countries with available data, with an average decline of 3.8%.

Analysis in the Outlook indicates that profits have often risen more than labour compensation. Going forward, evidence suggests there is some room for profits to absorb further wage adjustments to recover some of the losses in purchasing power gradually without generating significant price pressures or resulting in a fall in labour demand.

FROM MARGINS TO MAINSTREAM: HOW FEMINISM IS SHAPING THE CLIMATE JUSTICE MOVEMENT

The interlink between feminism and the fight for climate justice is rooted in the recognition that gender inequalities intersect with environmental challenges. Feminist perspectives highlight how women and marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by climate change, facing unique vulnerabilities and barriers to resilience. By addressing gender disparities, empowering women, and advocating for gender-responsive climate policies, the movement for feminism and climate justice seeks to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.

BUILDING TRUST & REINFORCING DEMOCRACY

Democracies are under unprecedented levels of pressure from within and without. The polarisation of political discourse, geopolitical tensions, public health and economic crises, and creeping foreign influence in democratic processes – all also fueled by mis- and disinformation – have tested citizens’ trust in public institutions and are driving many governments to strengthen and protect democratic values and processes. 

Launched at the 2022 OECD Global Forum and Ministerial on Building Trust and Reinforcing Democracy, the OECD’s Reinforcing Democracy Initiative provides evidence-based guidance and good international practices to help countries reinforce democratic values and institutions.

Trust in public institutions underpins the 5 pillars of work that form the OECD Reinforcing Democracy Initiative:

• Pillar 1 - Combating mis- and disinformation
• Pillar 2 - Strengthening representation, participation and openness in public life
• Pillar 3 - Embracing the global responsibilities of governments and building resilience to foreign influence
• Pillar 4 - Gearing up government to deliver on climate and other environmental challenges
• Pillar 5 - Transforming public governance for digital democracy

RIVETING READS AND LISTENS FOR SUMMER 2023

It’s that time of the year! Dip into the first batch of summer recommendations from Carnegie Europe. We hope you discover some real gems.

SWEAT &THE CITY: BRUSSELS' SPORTS GUIDE

The Sports Guide 2023-2024 lists all the sports in the sports halls and stadiums of the City of Brussels. This guide contains full details of all the sports clubs and sports venues of the City of Brussels.

The #BrusselsSports social networks provide info on all the City's sports activities, sports venues and stadiums:

• External site BrusselsSport (Facebook)
• External site BrusselsSport (Instagram)
• External site BrusselsSports (YouTube)