April 2010
Increasing migration in Europe means that greater efforts are needed to integrate migrant groups in three important areas - schools, the labour market and politics. Policy makers in these areas at both national and EU level are urged to improve access to schooling regardless of the legal status of the student, to prevent schools from developing an ‘all immigrant’ demographic, to fight discrimination in the labour market and to give political rights to long term immigrants.....more
June 2010
New insights into the role of cultural diversity and active citizenship in Europe have emerged from a research network set up to encourage more citizens to participate in policy making at all levels of society. Mass emigration, dual nationality, the rise of nationalism and inter-ethnic conflicts are all important current issues that question society’s previous straightforward understanding of state citizenship. The CINEFOGO network believes that in order for people, especially young people, to practise active citizenship, they need to form an identity, develop a set of civic values and develop a sense of belonging to a democratic entity.....more
July 2010
Organisations frustrated by many differences in contract law within the European Union may soon find relief. The European Commission has just appointed an 18-member expert group to examine the possibility of creating an ‘optional European contract law’. The group is carrying forward work done by an EU-funded Network of Excellence which has already produced a Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR). The Frame of Reference could provide a basis for harmonising European contract law......more
September 2010
The European Union is facing challenges and questions to its legitimacy and democratic capacities due to a dual process of integration and decentralisation at both the national and European level. At such a time it is particularly important to address the issues around the concept of EU citizenship.......more
October 2010
For the long term success of the European Union, it is essential that ordinary citizens identify with the 'European Project'. However, previous research into European identity has taken a 'top down' elitist perspective rather than a 'grass-roots' approach.......more
November 2010
Discrimination is a complex phenomenon that can occur at many levels. The GendeRace project has investigated the combined effects of gender and racial/ethnic discrimination in Europe, and indicated that men and women differ in their experiences and reactions. Although there are comprehensive legal frameworks at both a European and national level to ensure equal treatment, multiple discrimination needs greater consideration.......more
December 2010
Being European has different meanings for different nations and for different groups of people within those nations. The IME research project aims to understand the complexities of these identities and their interactions. Its preliminary results have indicated differences in how nations embrace ‘being European’.......more
February 2011
New research shows how the actions of groups and individuals on the margins of the European Union, just as much as those of formal EU institutions, have an impact on EU identity and its policies on citizenship.......more
April 2011
The FEMCIT research project has studied how citizenship is gendered, and how women, as citizens and activists, have been involved in challenging inequalities and injustice across Europe. While the project stresses the significant remaking of citizenship enacted by women’s movements over the past four decades, it acknowledges that Europe today is still a long way from being truly gender-fair. As highlighted by the project, although a number of women's movements’ demands have been partially or totally accommodated in the past, “ongoing structural and social changes mean that women's movements are facing new challenges”.......more
May 2011
The expanded European Union has a highly diverse population with many different languages and ethnicities that are continuously changing due to globalisation and migration. This creates complex challenges to and opportunities for good neighbourhood relations across and within nation states.......more
June 2011
Historical stereotypes, xenophobia and prejudices have acquired new vigour and support in the face of economic problems in a growing and expanding Europe. Selective and unquestioned attitudes among historians can underpin pervasive ideas about identities, and national, religious, gender and political stereotypes. Researchers recommend a transnational understanding of EU ‘history’ to help achieve a more inclusive European citizenship.......more
July 2011
European arts festivals are the ideal platforms to promote the core values of the EU, such as supporting cultural diversity and encouraging transnational integration, according to a new report1. The researchers recommend an increased ‘presence’ of the EU at contemporary arts festivals across Europe, through active participation, direct funding and sponsorship.......more
October 2011
Over the past five years the QUING research project has been systematically comparing gender equality policies and discourses in all 27 EU Member States plus Turkey and Croatia. Now, having recently completed their ambitious project, the researchers have produced a wealth of data and analysis that are expected to shape the European Union’s approach to gender and equality issues well into the future. The findings reveal major differences – but also some important similarities - in the way EU Member States understand and address gender-related challenges.....more
November 2011
Capacity building of collective actors is essential to prevent market failures or failures related to direct governmental regulations imposed in the name of public interest, as identified by the REFGOV (Reflexive Governance) research project. To improve the situation, the project proposes to involve actors and users, or stakeholders in a common process of self-evaluation of their identity and objectives in which lessons from local experiments are pooled and cross-regional/cross-country learning is fostered.....more