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Condizioni e qualità della vita

Le condizioni e la qualità della vita rappresentano una delle sei attività principali del programma di lavoro di Eurofound per il periodo 2021-2024. Eurofound continuerà a mappare e ad analizzare gli aspetti chiave relativi al miglioramento delle condizioni di vita degli europei, comprese le informazioni sulla loro percezione della qualità della vita e della società. Dal momento che la pandemia da COVID-19 e la conseguente crisi economica hanno profondamente inciso sulla vita cittadini dell’UE, Eurofound indagherà ulteriormente sull’impatto di questa crisi sulle diverse fasi della loro vita.

Nel corso del periodo 2021-2024, la ricerca di Eurofound fornirà un’importante panoramica delle sfide e delle prospettive nel settore delle condizioni e della qualità della vita nell’UE e sul ruolo svolto da varie iniziative volte ad alleviare il disagio sociale di vari gruppi di cittadini. Di particolare interesse sono le implicazioni per gli anziani e le esigenze di assistenza nonché per i giovani e la loro inclusione e mobilità sociale, come anche le diverse conseguenze della crisi su uomini e donne.

servizi pubblici in tutta l’UE hanno svolto un ruolo importante nel far fronte alla crisi da COVID-19 affrontando al contempo sfide significative e saranno valutati in modo più dettagliato, prestando particolare attenzione a questioni quali la qualità, la disponibilità e l’accessibilità economica di tali servizi. Come hanno dimostrato i risultati precedenti, la crisi ha avuto effetti sproporzionati su alcuni gruppi in base all’età, alle mansioni di assistenza e all’ equilibrio tra vita professionale e vita privata , aspetti che Eurofound analizzerà ulteriormente.

In coordinamento con l’Istituto europeo per l’uguaglianza di genere (EIGE), Eurofound intende svolgere una ricerca sul divario di genere multidimensionale indagando l’impatto su uomini e donne della crisi da COVID-19 in termini di partecipazione al lavoro, condizioni di vita materiali e benessere, al fine di individuare le differenze e valutarne l’effetto sui divari di genere.

La qualità dei servizi pubblici è stata fondamentale per creare fiducia nelle istituzioni dell’Europa contemporanea e sarà cruciale per affrontare le sfide attuali e future. Quella dei servizi di qualità rappresenta altresì un’area di innovazione, soprattutto nel passaggio a servizi digitali e più rispettosi dell’ambiente e nella preparazione ad affrontare i rischi, come la pandemia, in futuro.

— Tadas Leončikas, responsabile di alto livello della ricerca, unità Politiche sociali

Topic

Recent updates

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Increasing emphasis on independent living and social inclusion is driving deinstitutionalisation – the shift away from a reliance on residential institutions towards family- and community-based settings for the provision of...

25 Ottobre 2024
Publication
Research report

Messaggi strategici chiave

Infografica

I principali risultati emersi dalla ricerca di Eurofound servono ai responsabili politici da spunto per affrontare alcune delle questioni chiave in questo settore.

  • La percezione delle tensioni nella società è il fattore che esercita l’impatto maggiormente negativo sulla fiducia nelle istituzioni, che viene invece accresciuta in modo determinante dalla qualità percepita dei servizi pubblici.
  • È necessario offrire una migliore assistenza a lungo termine, con maggiore flessibilità. L’assistenza e l’assistenza domiciliare dovrebbero essere maggiormente disponibili, soprattutto negli Stati membri dell’UE in cui il reddito è più basso.
  • L’accesso immediato all’assistenza sanitaria di base, all’assistenza sociale e all’assistenza a lungo termine può innescare un intervento precoce e il monitoraggio dei mutevoli bisogni nonché prevenire l’intensificazione dei problemi di assistenza a lungo termine.
  • I problemi di salute mentale sono in aumento tra i giovani, anche se non è chiaro se ciò sia dovuto a una maggiore incidenza o a una migliore consapevolezza e diagnosi. La salute mentale è strettamente legata ad altre questioni giovanili e può essere sia il risultato di disuguaglianze che essa stessa una fonte di disuguaglianza. I fattori di rischio relativi ai problemi di salute mentale includono disabilità e malattie a lungo termine, problemi familiari, problemi relazionali con i coetanei e l’uso intenso dei social media.
  • Sebbene i livelli di fiducia e di coesione sociale abbiano complessivamente registrato una ripresa nell’UE dopo la crisi finanziaria, l’insorgenza della COVID-19 ha avuto un impatto significativo sul benessere dei paesi più duramente colpiti dalla pandemia.
  • I giovani sono tra i soggetti maggiormente colpiti dal blocco: insieme ai disoccupati, riferiscono i livelli di benessere più bassi, nonostante qualche miglioramento dall’inizio della pandemia. Benché la soddisfazione personale e l’ottimismo siano cresciuti a partire da aprile 2020, i giovani continuano a sentirsi esclusi dalla società e rimangono esposti a un maggior rischio di depressione, mostrando di essere più colpiti di altre categorie dalle restrizioni introdotte durante il blocco.
  • Le misure volte a mitigare i rischi per la salute mentale dei disoccupati e dei giovani in seguito alla COVID-19 saranno di importanza fondamentale nelle nuove ondate di coronavirus. Gli interventi politici in atto devono comprendere azioni volte a fornire sostegno mirato a coloro che sono in cerca di lavoro, affinché possano rimettersi in carreggiata e far fronte all’impatto della pandemia, nonché a garantire la piena partecipazione dei giovani alla società.
  • La crisi da COVID-19 ha eroso i livelli di ottimismo andando a colpire l’equilibrio tra vita professionale e vita privata delle donne in misura maggiore rispetto agli uomini. Sarà essenziale porre rimedio a questi effetti negativi per garantire che le donne non debbano pagare un prezzo sproporzionato per la pandemia.
  • Fare sì che i cittadini continuino ad avere fiducia nelle istituzioni nazionali ed europee deve restare un obiettivo fondamentale in tempi di crisi, dal momento che il rispetto delle misure volte a tenere sotto controllo la pandemia di COVID-19 dipende in gran parte dal grado di fiducia nelle istituzioni e nelle raccomandazioni scientifiche. Anche l’aumento della fiducia nelle istituzioni espresso dai partecipanti che hanno beneficiato di misure di sostegno rappresenta un chiaro messaggio per i governi nazionali e l’UE.

2021–2024 work plan

During 2021–2024, Eurofound’s research will provide an important insight into the challenges and prospects in the area of living conditions and quality of life in the EU and the role played by various initiatives aimed at alleviating the social hardship of various groups of citizens. Of particular interest are the implications for older people and care needs, youth and their social inclusion and social mobility, and the varying consequences of the crisis on men and women.

Public services across the EU played a major role in addressing the COVID-19 crisis while facing significant challenges and they will be assessed in greater detail, focusing on issues such as quality, access and affordability. As previous findings have shown, the crisis has had disproportionate effects on certain groups according to age, care responsibilities and work-life balance, and Eurofound will analyse this further.

In coordination with the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Eurofound intends to research the multidimensional gender gap by investigating the impact on men and women of the COVID-19 crisis in terms of employment participation, material living conditions and well-being – in order to identify the differences and assess its effect on gender gaps.

Addressing stakeholder priorities

Eurofound’s research aims to assist policy action addressing the challenges and opportunities for the EU and national levels in the area of living conditions and quality of life. In particular, it will monitor the impact of COVID-19 and the ensuing economic crisis by providing knowledge on status, trends, risks, as well as ways to improve living conditions in the EU. Eurofound will focus on identifying and analysing pressing issues for the most vulnerable groups, specifically older citizens and young people. Eurofound will also inform policymakers by producing evidence on trends and drivers in relation to the delivery of public services, also linking in, for example, with the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The Agency’s work plan is aligned with the European Commission’s political guidelines over the next four years, directly feeding into a number of key policy areas aimed at creating a strong social Europe. In particular, the research will support policy initiatives and activities linked with the implementation of the European Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025, the Youth Guarantee, the Child Guarantee and the European Semester and its country-specific recommendations.

 

Eurofound research

In 2024, Eurofound continues to monitor trends in living conditions and quality of life, against the backdrop of the health-related and economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the implications of the war in Ukraine, rising energy prices, and increases in costs of living. Building on the various rounds of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey, as well as on data gathered in 2023, the Agency investigates the impact of these challenges on the living conditions of Europeans.

The European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) commences in 2024, including some questions on working conditions and living conditions relevant to the aftermath of COVID-19. The European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) follows in 2026 using lessons drawn from the 2024 EWCS.

Research concludes on identifying groups not covered by social protection, due to coverage gaps and non-take-up of minimum income and unemployment schemes. It also looks at adequacy of these benefits, digitalisation of application procedures, linked service entitlements and sanctioning measures. Eurofound also publishes its findings on EU citizens’ rights and opportunities to live independently. It analyses the situation faced by various vulnerable groups and provides an overview of measures that facilitate family- and community-based care and support in the Member States.

Building on previous work on young people, research concludes on the life and prospects of young people in the post-pandemic era. Using new data collected in 2023, this research assesses the long-term impact of the pandemic on this group, looking into changes in the social situation of young people, as well as their quality of life, mental health and future prospects.

Analysis of the monitoring framework of the European Child Guarantee comes to an end in 2024, while new research starts to support national governments and the EU institutions in the implementation and evaluation of the Child Guarantee since it came into force. This work investigates the Member States’ levels of performance and their disparities, building on its previous work on convergence. It focuses on the workforce needed to deliver the Child Guarantee in areas of early childhood education and care, education, healthcare and other relevant sectors.

Considering the importance of care provision in EU societies, new research investigates informal care provision in the EU, the challenges faced by informal caregivers, and the measures in place to support them. This research considers care provided to people of all ages, while taking into consideration the diversity among informal carers. 

Eurofound launches new research on mental health services, investigating trends in and prevalence of mental health problems for different groups and how these needs are met in various countries in light of the pandemic and the arrival of Ukrainian refugees. 

Key outputs

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Eurofound's 2024 work programme is set in the context of the upcoming European elections, war in Ukraine, renewed Middle East conflict and rising cost of living across the EU.

23 Gennaio 2024
Publication
Work programme
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Il caro alloggi è motivo di grande preoccupazione nell’UE in quanto può comportare deprivazione o insicurezza abitativa, difficoltà finanziarie e condizioni precarie degli alloggi. Inoltre, impedisce ai giovani di andare...

30 Maggio 2023
Publication
Research report
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Il 2022 si è aperto con cauto ottimismo. L’Europa stava uscendo da due anni di pandemia di COVID-19, con NextGenerationEU che definiva un piano per una ripresa che costruisse un...

4 Maggio 2023
Publication
Annual report

Eurofound expert(s)

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Hans Dubois is a senior research manager in the Social Policies unit at Eurofound. His research topics include housing, over-indebtedness, healthcare, long-term care, social...

Senior research manager,
Social policies research unit
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Massimiliano Mascherini has been Head of the Social Policies unit at Eurofound since October 2019. He joined Eurofound in 2009 as a research manager, designing and coordinating...

Head of Unit,
Social policies research unit
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Sanna Nivakoski is a research officer in the Social Policies unit at Eurofound. Before joining Eurofound in 2021, she worked as a post-doctoral researcher at University College...

Research officer,
Social policies research unit
Publications results (310)

Increasing emphasis on independent living and social inclusion is driving deinstitutionalisation – the shift away from a reliance on residential institutions towards family- and community-based settings for the provision of care and services. The aim is to ensure that people at risk of marginalisati

25 October 2024

This report focuses on unemployment and minimum income benefits for people of working age. Individuals with short or no employment records (mainly young people), the self-employed, those with non-standard working arrangements, and the long-term unemployed are often not entitled to higher-tier, or

08 October 2024

During the pandemic, many young people had to change their plans for the future. While at the end of 2023 young people’s labour market situation was more favourable than it had been in recent years, many obstacles remained on their route to independence, such as the rising cost of living and

21 May 2024

The post-pandemic recovery of Europe continued in 2023, with strong job creation despite subdued economic growth, against a background of rising geopolitical tension. Eurofound’s research over the year brought to light evidence on the key issues shaping the daily lives and work of Europeans.

02 May 2024

This background paper focuses on one important aspect of social protection: unemployment benefits, both first tier (usually contributory) and lower tier (predominantly tax-based, non-contributory and means-tested). Unemployment benefits help to cushion the impact of job loss on household finances an

02 February 2024

The various economic and social shocks of the past decade and a half – most recently the COVID-19 pandemic – have ongoing consequences for the living standards and prospects of Europeans, and sometimes these outcomes have been uneven across age groups. Social policies – such as those in the areas of

19 December 2023

The urban-rural divide in EU countries has grown in recent years, and the depopulation of certain rural areas in favour of cities is a challenge when it comes to promoting economic development and maintaining social cohesion and convergence.

18 October 2023

La presente relazione affronta l’impatto della crisi dovuta alla pandemia di COVID-19 sui servizi sociali nell’UE. Pur avendo avuto un impatto negativo sui servizi sociali, la pandemia ha tuttavia offerto alcuni insegnamenti su come adattarli per far fronte alle nuove sfide e ai rischi sociali. In

16 August 2023

Il caro alloggi è motivo di grande preoccupazione nell’UE in quanto può comportare deprivazione o insicurezza abitativa, difficoltà finanziarie e condizioni precarie degli alloggi. Inoltre, impedisce ai giovani di andare a vivere per conto proprio. Questi problemi si ripercuotono sulla salute e sul

30 May 2023

Il 2022 si è aperto con cauto ottimismo. L’Europa stava uscendo da due anni di pandemia di COVID-19, con NextGenerationEU che definiva un piano per una ripresa che costruisse un futuro forte e sostenibile. L’attacco russo nei confronti dell’Ucraina all’inizio dell’anno ha però cambiato radicalmente

04 May 2023

Online resources results (219)

In this episode of Eurofound Talks, Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound researchers Eszter Sandor and Massimiliano Mascherini about the situation for young people in Europe.

25 Giugno 2024

In this episode Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound Senior Research Manager Hans Dubois on the issues that feed into housing insecurity in Europe, and the actions that need to be taken to address them. Together, they analyse findings from Eurofound’s recent Unaffordable and inadequate housing in Eu

15 Giugno 2023

The rise in cost of living and energy poverty: Social impact and policy responses. 14 October 2022, Informal Meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers (EPSCO). Presentation by Ivailo Kalfin, Executive Director, Eurofound.

14 Ottobre 2022
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Wages in long-term care and other social services 21% below average

New data from the EU Structure of Earnings Survey (SES) show that, on average, EU Member States paid their social services workers 21% less than the average national hourly earnings in 2018: this compares with 19% less than the average in 2010 and 20% less in 2014. The majority of social services

European Quality of Life Survey 2016 New results for the EU candidate countries Event on Improving quality of life in Europe – Sharing data to shape better policies, 26 June 2018, Belgrade, Serbia Presentation by Tadas Leončikas, Senior Research Manager, Eurofound

26 Giugno 2018

Germany: Trade unions' approach to climate change policies

While the international trade union movement is calling for a more effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, national trade unions differ regarding the way forward. German unions are taking a traditional path in joining forces with employers and calling for governmental

Malta: Latest working life developments – Q3 2017

Compensating workers for weekend public holidays, the effect of legalising marijuana in the workplace, and a proposal that the first day of sick leave should be unpaid are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Malta in

Finland: Major reform to healthcare and social services underway

The Finnish government is preparing a major reform to health, social services and regional government which will make regional governments a new level of public administration. Healthcare and social services and public employment services will be transferred from local governments to regional


Blogs results (32)

The housing crisis could be tackled by improving public services, better urban planning and ensuring that social protection benefits reach the people who need them most.

2 Maggio 2024

The state in which the EU finds itself has been described as a ‘permacrisis’, whereby the Union is confronted by challenge after challenge, and citizens are constantly having to adapt to a ‘new normal’.

11 Dicembre 2023
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Spiralling housing costs are causing despair across the EU. The situation is making people anxious that they will lose their accommodation or become homeless; they may become overburdened financially or forced to live in substandard accommodation; and many young people are unable to leave home. Whil

4 Aprile 2023
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A cocktail of insecurity, misinformation and mistrust imperil Europe’s future. Reliable, accessible data are at a premium.

14 Dicembre 2022
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Lower levels of health, increasing financial pressure and a significant degree of unmet healthcare: these are the findings of the fifth round of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey: Living in a new era of uncertainty – a report that presents an overview of responses from over 200,000 people

6 Ottobre 2022
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Rising energy prices are putting more people under increased financial pressure and at greater risk of energy poverty. In this data story, we take a closer look at the data from the fifth round of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey to explore the extent of the issue and the threat of energy

3 Agosto 2022
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Trust in national institutions has declined across the EU over the past two years. Driven by increasingly difficult economic circumstances and unreliable news sources, even people who previously expressed higher trust levels – such as those in financially secure positions – have become less trusting

25 Luglio 2022
Image of people waiting for tram in city street and man cycling on cycle path

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting sanctions have caused energy prices to soar. Governments seeking to alleviate the negative impacts of price increases on households have introduced energy subsidies and VAT reductions for electricity, gas and fuel. While such policies may be needed

10 Giugno 2022
Image of family cooking around camp fire outside home under bombardment in Ukraine

We are 100 days on from the invasion by Russia of Ukraine on 24 February, when peace in Europe was shattered. As the human tragedy began to unfold and with more than 6.8 million Ukrainians, mostly women and children, escaping their country since the start of the war, European citizens have been watc

8 Giugno 2022
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The European Pillar of Social Rights states that ‘everyone has the right to affordable long-term care services of good quality, in particular home-care and community-based services’. Taking a step to make this principle a reality, the European Commission is currently preparing a European Care Strate

5 Maggio 2022

Upcoming publications results (2)

This report analyses data from Eurofound’s European Working Conditions Telephone Survey (EWCTS), the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey and official statistics to examine employment trends, working conditions and social inclusion challenges experienced by young people in the Western Balkans (Alba

December 2024
Forthcoming
Publication
Research report

This factsheet will provide a snapshot of society and quality of life in spring 2024. It will look at a number of issues, including mental well-being, trust, access to healthcare, social support and coping with increases in the cost of living. The analysis is based on the Living and working in the

December 2024
Data results (1)
24 Ottobre 2023
Reference period:

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