Ongoing projects 


Monitoring of the solidarity aspects of European Union

This research activity includes monitoring, analysing and evaluating the evolution of EU social policy in its formation at the intersection of political action on the part of supranational institutions and member states, European Court of Justice rulings and the evolution of the internal market. Besides scientific and informative aims, this research aspires to affect the policy debate in the EU. It therefore envisages the production of working papers and policy papers, and their presentation during academic seminars and meetings with policymakers. Furthermore, the research results are disseminated through the publication of policy evaluations and proposals in European Governance and through the publication of in-depth articles on the new initiatives and projects concerning Social Europe in Social Europe Issues.


Flexicurity and employment policy in Europe

This project deals with the debate on the issue of flexicurity, i.e. the discussion of the “flexibility-security” nexus in the reforms of national labour markets. One strand of the project focuses on the political dimension of such reforms, taking into consideration the conditions and obstacles that can favour or hamper them. Particular emphasis is accorded to the study of Italy, with a view to understanding the development of reforms that promoted the deregulation of labour law on the one hand, and the failure of a comprehensive reform of unemployment benefit system, on the other hand. Another strand deals directly with non standard employment, looking at the interaction between labour market institutions and social protection systems in bringing about, or avoiding, inferior social outcomes as a consequence of employment flexibility. Empirical research is carried out mainly with regard to Italy, in comparison with other insurance-based welfare states such as Germany. Besides the production of edited volumes, working papers, articles and other scientific contributions, the project aims to contribute to the debate on employment policy reforms.


Past projects