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EU Monitoring: Current socio-political developments in Europe
In our EU-Monitoring, we provide a monthly overview of the activities of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the European civil society organisations in the field of social policy. A special focus is on issues in the fields of child and youth policy, family and reconciliation pol-icy, gender equality policy and policy for older people.Accompanying the monthly EU Monitoring, we publish focus issues on specific topics. If you would like to receive the monthly EU-Monitoring by e-mail, please write us stating your name and organisation: beobachtungsstelle (a) iss-ffm.de
Please note that the EU-Monitoring is only published in German.
Focus issues of the EU Monitoring
In addition to the monthly issue of the EU-Monitoring, the observatory publishes a focus issue in which the European Union's sociopolitical relevant measures and strategies are presented.The focus issue is published in German only.
Youth Policy in the EU
Climate change, technological and demographic trends, political instability and Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine are changing society and democratic interactions. In our interconnected world, many young people are concerned with these global issues and are looking for solutions for a sustainable society. At the same time, too little attention and consideration are given to young people at the political level. With youth policy initiatives like the European Year of Youth, the European Union aims to involve young people and their priorities more in policymaking and to open up new opportunities for them.
Equality of LGBTIQ* persons
Over the course of the last one and a half years, the Observatory focused its research on the equality of LGBTIQ* persons in Germany and Europe.An essential political instrument for promoting and implementing the rights of LGBTIQ* persons is drafting a National Action Plan. In Germany, political and civil society stakeholders have demanded a National Action Plan for many years. The implementation of National Action Plans in the other EU Member States shows that they systematically advance the equality of LGBTIQ* persons.
Together with other crucial queer policy projects for combating hate crimes against LGBTIQ* persons and for advancing the equality of rainbow families, the German Federal Government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz included the drafting of a National Action Plan in the Coalition Agreement 2021–2025.
With our publication series, we are making a substantive contribution to the process of drafting a National LGBTIQ* Equality Action Plan in Germany. You can find all publications under our new key topic: Equality of LGBTIQ* persons
Carer's allowance: paying family caregivers for care
Internal research by the Observatory (not published) from November 2022 dealt with the so-called carer's allowance. This is a financial benefit for family caregivers, which in theory is based on a 20- to 40-hours week on basis of the minimum wage. In contrast, the wage replacement benefit for family caregivers is lower as a financial benefit, as it is based on the parental allowance and can comprise 65 to 100 per cent of the previous year’s net salary (DIW Berlin 2022: 4).
The research shows that the carer’s allowance is partially offered in three European countries: Since 2019 family caregivers in Austria in the canton of Burgenland can be employed in the so-called Burgenland-Modell after a basic training course and receive a carer’s allowance. In Denmark, people who care for a seriously ill, dying or disabled relative can receive a carer‘s allowance. The amount depends on various factors and is paid out by the municipality where the care takes place. In Switzerland, family carers can be employed by the Caritas in the cantons of Luzern and Zug. From 2023 onwards, an expansion to further cantons is envisaged. With Solicare this model already exists in 16 other cantons. In both Swiss models, the family carers are regularly visited by qualified nursing professionals for quality assurance. In addition, the residence of the family member providing care must be in one of the approved cantons. In Germany, the social association VdK has dealt with this topic in a study. However, according to the coalition agreement of the federal government, a wage replacement benefit for family carers in case of care-related time off is planned.