From crisis to recovery: Better informed policies for a competitive and fair Europe - Four-year work programme 2013-2016

The year 2016 marks the fourth and final year of implementation of Eurofound’s four-year work programme 2013–2016, From crisis to recovery: Better informed policies for a competitive and fair Europe. The multiannual strategy laid down in the four-year programme provides Eurofound with a clear framework for the development of its annual programmes. The programme describes the policy context in which the Agency operates and defines the mission of the organisation and its core areas of expertise. It identifies four policy priority areas where Eurofound will provide high-quality, timely and policy-relevant knowledge as input to better informed policies. This is the Agency’s strategic objective for the 2013–2016 period. The activities proposed in the annual programme for 2016 are designed to contribute to achieving this strategic objective. They are in line with the commitments made in the four-year programme while also taking into account the organisational and policy context specific to 2016.

The year 2015 marks the third year of implementation of Eurofound’s four-year work programme 2013–2016, From crisis to recovery: Better informed policies for a competitive and fair Europe. The multiannual strategy laid down in the four-year programme provides Eurofound with a clear framework for the development of its annual programmes. The programme describes the policy context in which the Agency operates and defines the mission of the organisation and its core areas of expertise. It identifies four policy priority areas where Eurofound will provide high-quality, timely and policy-relevant knowledge as input to better informed policies. This is the Agency’s strategic objective for the 2013–2016 period.

The focus of Eurofound’s 2014 work programme will be on providing knowledge that will help to address Europe’s employment and social crisis. In relation to employment, the Agency will continue to provide information on ongoing changes in the employment structure. To support policies aimed at combating unemployment, the focus will be on job creation in SMEs and on initiatives for young people. For those in employment, sustainable working conditions throughout working life, as well as company practices that improve both working conditions and company performance, will be central research interests. The social crisis experienced in many Member States is closely related to the tightening of public budgets. Public services will receive special attention, with research examining how access, quality and effectiveness are impacted by the crisis and aiming to identify where and how they have successfully adapted to the dual challenge of increased demand for services and declining resources. These questions will guide research on a number of specific services and on social benefits.

In 2013, Eurofound will focus on developing its capacity in the area of policy evaluation. The aim is to improve support to policymakers in identifying and understanding which policies in the employment and social area have been more effective than others. Eurofound’s core activity of monitoring developments across Member States is of particular relevance in 2013 as increasing divergence between Member States is a key concern. Up-to-date information from the 2011–2012 European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) and from secondary analysis of the fifth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) will provide relevant information on divergence and convergence between Member States. Results and analysis from Eurofound’s ongoing labour market monitoring are also expected to be of key interest in 2013 as they can provide valuable input for the policy debate on how to make labour markets more dynamic and inclusive.