During the second biennial European Union in European Affairs #EUEA19, part of the Institute's Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence project, academics and researchers contributed their policy recommendations to the European Institutions to strengthen European solidarity.
#EUEA19
For ULB professor Amandine Crespy, there is “a lot of work to do with regards to narratives, and for politicians and representatives elected by the people to tackle narratives that are very detrimental to solidarity among Europeans.” Empirical research, says Crespy, shows that “the stories we hear about welfare tourism and benefits tourism” are fake.
Crespy recommends that EU institutions “target a very limited number of legally binding policy measures that could be adopted and that would be very visible for European citizens”. As an example of this type of policy, Crespy mentions a European framework for a minimum wage. “[That] would be something that in the minds of citizens would really show the value-added of the European Union for social progress.”
“Empirical research shows that the stories we hear about welfare tourism and benefits tourism are not a tangible reality in Europe today.” Amandine Crespy, ULB
