Social protection and welfare
-
Economy: Saint Precarious – new icon of Europe
15 January 201385817 NRC Handelsblad Amsterdam -
United Kingdom: Britain braces for VAT hike
3 January 20111PresseuropThe Guardian -
Debates: Diversity and solidarity - happy bed-fellows?
27 September 201076 Les Echos Paris -
Editorial: What next for the welfare state?
24 September 2010311Presseurop -
Sweden: Victory of the selfish Swede
17 September 2010145 Fokus Stockholm -
Denmark: Beggar thy frauding neighbour
7 April 201060 Politiken Copenhagen -
Budget 2010: Ireland can drink to forget
9 December 2009PresseuropIrish Independent -
German elections: Free-market liberals take European helm
29 September 2009PresseuropDie Tageszeitung -
Romania: Some benefits are more equal than others
16 July 20092 România libera Bucharest -
Education: Danes to get "diploma" for voluntary work
14 July 2009PresseuropInformation -
Social Benefits: Poland's welfare in a state
8 July 20091PresseuropDziennik Gazeta Prawna -
Welfare state: Scandinavia's lovely and unaffordable model
6 July 2009421 Le Soir Brussels
Austerity and free market regulations have created a band of loyal followers: The Precarious. And they are threatening the jewel European civilization, social security, argues Belgian writer Geert Van Istandael. 
Tensions between regions in Belgium and Italy, and the expulsion of the Roma from France have highlighted an underlying conflict in societies that wish to be both generous and socially diverse. According to two French economists, it is a tug-of-war that also has the potential to undermine the European Union. 
For the first time in its history, the right are likely to win a second term in Sweden's elections this weekend. So does this also the spell the end of the country’s model welfare state?
Following the example of Copenhagen, more and more Danish local authorities are encouraging local citizens to inform on neighbours involved in benefit fraud. Politiken deplores a shift in policy, which it believes will undermine the rule of law. 
In 2008, nearly one out of two Romanians obtained social benefit. With comfortable pensions for some and long maternity leave for others, the unemployed remain sidelined, reports România Libera, while the better off reap full advantage of a generous system. 
European member states are seeking solutions to soften the impact of the prolonged economic crisis. Sweden, whose much-admired social model is the envy of many countries, has the return to prosperity a priority for its presidency of the Union. But Le Soir reports that Sweden's example may not be easy to follow.