Although economic forecasts are predicting a somewhat more optimistic outlook for the European economy, seen in absolute terms there is little reason to be optimistic about the European Union's economic and social situation. What is more, the remains of the economic crisis are to be tackled in a climate of social and political crisis with the UK leaving the EU and populist parties gaining ground in many European countries. It is in this political climate that the EU is starting to put forward social concerns at the heart of its reflections on the Future of Europe.

As the analysis of this year’s Benchmarking report on the state of 'working Europe’ displays, through a presentation of the real facts and figures behind the EU’s continuing economic stagnation, its enduring jobs and labour market crisis, the decline of social dialogue and the squeezing of wages as well as the dismantling of collective bargaining, this concern comes somewhat late but it is of key importance in order for Europe to lay down the foundations for a sustainable and fair society.

The ETUI is financially supported by the European Union. ETUI, aisbl 2017