The European Union is faced with an exceptional year: in addition to the European Parliament elections and the start of a new Commission, Great Britain, one of the biggest member states, might leave the Union in near future. For Finland, this year is particularly interesting, as from July till the end of the year, Finland will be the President of the Union, only a few months after the Finnish Parliamentary Election and under the leadership of the new government.
SOSTE Finnish Federation for Social Affairs and Health and Finnish Anti-Poverty Network EAPN-Fin have published online publication Future of Europe – Reforming the policies of the European Union. The purpose of this collection of articles is to stimulate debate on social and health issues at EU level and activate advocacy activities.
Social and health NGO’s wish to put the wellbeing economy in the center of the EU discussion. The actions of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health during this year’s Presidency fall under the wellbeing economy theme. Social and health NGO’s hope that the discussion on social Europe and the wellbeing economy will continue and grow.
”The wellbeing economy should be the starting point of the future strategy. It means that increase in individual resources and participation of people will be emphasised; fortifying the basic elements of wellbeing and good life. The civil society is a major player in the wellbeing economy, and the strengthening thereof should hold a key place in the strategy.”, says SOSTEs Chief Economist Jussi Ahokas.
Read the online publication Future of Europe.