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This fact sheet explains the EU’s supporting role in the area of youth policy. The fact sheet introduces the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and its three pillars – Engage, Connect and Empower – pursued through flagship programmes such as Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and the Youth Guarantee. It further outlines the European Parliament’s role in shaping child protection measures, online safety for minors and the mechanisms that give young people a direct voice in EU policymaking.

The public policy ideal should be to provide high-quality healthcare to all EU citizens and residents in each Member State, also through cross-border cooperation, that, in turn, incentivises improvements in national healthcare systems. Difficulties in accessing cross-border healthcare become apparent when the coordination of public healthcare systems intersects with the free movement of market (private) healthcare services and goods. Inter alia, this paper presents the current challenges and possible ...

This briefing explores the potential of a European Senior/Pensioner Card from a human rights perspective. It assesses different design options, particularly regarding eligibility. While such a card could support mobility, participation and access to services, it would need to be embedded in a broader policy approach addressing age discrimination and promoting age-friendly environments across the EU.

The European Commission wants to improve the quality of jobs in the EU. Building on its communication on the quality jobs roadmap, it is now preparing a new legislative proposal, the quality jobs act. Taking as a starting point the existing EU rules, it has consulted European social partners on possible further action in five areas: algorithmic management and artificial intelligence (AI) at work; health and safety at work; subcontracting; just transitions; and enforcement and role of social partners ...

This study examines the growing financialisation of housing in the EU, focusing on the role of institutional investors and corporate landlords in rental housing markets. It identifies two forms of speculation: valuation-driven business models centred on asset appreciation and landlord practices that undermine tenants’ rights and housing security. While the Commission’s European Affordable Housing Plan recognises these challenges, the study argues that more action and EU-level coordination are needed ...

This study examines the growing financialisation of housing in the EU, focusing on the role of institutional investors and corporate landlords in rental housing markets. It identifies two forms of speculation: valuation-driven business models centred on asset appreciation and landlord practices that undermine tenants’ rights and housing security. While the Commission’s European Affordable Housing Plan recognises these challenges, the study argues that more action and EU-level coordination are needed ...

This study assesses GAP III implementation and identifies lessons for GAP IV after 2027. It finds on the one hand GAP III strengthened EU gender mainstreaming through targets, gender analysis, Country-Level Implementation Plans, political dialogue and institutional routines, but on the other hand links to financing, responsibilities, results and accountability remain uneven. GAP IV could preserve this architecture while making gender equality more politically resilient, financially traceable, management-owned ...

This fact sheet explains the evolution of EU policies to combat poverty, social exclusion and discrimination. At the end of the 1990s, combating social exclusion was enshrined as a policy objective in the Treaties and the EU was equipped with stronger tools to fight against discrimination. Since then, key actions have been taken, such as the establishment of poverty reduction targets and the strategies designed to achieve them, as well as the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation.

This document provides background information for the Members participating in the mission to the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD, New York, from 9 to 11 June 2026.

Youth mental ill-health in the EU-27 is high, rising and increasingly associated with digital environments. This study shows how persuasive platform design, harmful content and emerging AI-mediated interactions amplify offline vulnerabilities in the context of under-resourced, fragmented services and a large 'missing middle' between schools and specialist care. Using seven country case studies and an EU-27 cost model, it estimates that youth mental ill-health will cost about €1.68 trillion over 2024 ...