Season’s Greetings 2023

As we approach the end of this year of post-pandemic recovery, which saw a focus on the twin transition to a green and digital economy while tackling the fallout of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent cost of living crisis, we reflect on its the impact on living and working in Europe. While we may not have had much to celebrate, one thing we can be proud of is how Europe has come together in the face of large-scale challenges and threats, showing that solidarity is the key to resilience and resolve.

During the year, Eurofound has continued to provide you with research findings and data on issues ranging from hybrid work, teleworking and the right to disconnect, and platform work, to care and healthcare, gender equality, minimum wages, persistent labour market imbalances, and growing inequalities, among others.

Contributing in various ways to the European Year of Skills, we have also provided high-level expertise and input to the Swedish and Spanish EU Presidencies as well as several key policy debates on labour shortages, the Child Guarantee and skills.

We communicated actively at national level as part of Eurofound’s Irish outreach programme in our host country, with the first ever annual Living and working in Europe lecture in Dublin, our Eurofound Open Day and a wide range of visits – notably from Commissioner Mairead McGuinness. In addition, the new development of reaching out to our stakeholders in the EU Member States through the Virtual Visits programme has been a big success. At EU level, we continue to forge further links through our new Brussels Briefings series.

We will continue to provide knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies, as we enter the last year of the Programming document 2021–2024: Towards recovery and resilience. We look forward to working with you in sharing our knowledge and expertise.

I take this opportunity, on behalf of Eurofound and its staff, to thank you for your support and wish you and your family a peaceful and safe Christmas and a happy New Year.

Ivailo Kalfin

Executive Director, Eurofound