Call for applications
Date and location
Start: Tuesday 18 October 2022
End: Friday 21 October 2022
Location: University of Milan, Via Pace, 10, 20122, Milan, Italy
General information
This Winter School, organised by the University of Milan, will give the opportunity to the participants to investigate and discuss the most salient and recent issues related to the social dimension of the European Union. By gathering some of the key experts in the domain of European social and employment policies, European labour law and European economic governance, the School offers an up-to-date account of the latest developments of the EU social policies from a social rights’ perspective. What are the social entitlements European citizens can benefit of as members of the EU? How does the EU reinforce and affect social rights?
Participants will be able to present their own research during three conference panels. The three panels will touch upon three different social rights’ areas: social investment (ECEC, education ALMP), working conditions and work-life balance, and social protection. Four post-doc discussants from different academic backgrounds (economics, political science and law) are assigned to each panel and will discuss papers submitted by the participants.
This Winter School is organized under the Horizon 2020 project EUSOCIALCIT which studies ‘the state of social rights’ in Europe and the role of the EU in the future development of social rights. EUSOCIALCIT is an ambitious interdisciplinary research project conducted by a consortium of eight academic institutions and an international think tank on EU affairs. The Winter School targets PhD students, post-docs and highly motivated early-stage researchers. Selected participants are expected to share knowledge, participate actively in debates, present their research and give feedback to other participants.
How to apply?
1. Please send your CV and a short motivation letter via the application form.
2. Submit an abstract of maximum 300 words about one of the three following topics:
– Social investment (ECEC, education, ALMP, life-long learning) policies in the EU
– Social protection policies, including housing, minimum income protection, unemployment benefit and short time work schemes, in the EU
– Work-life balance, working condition (including minimum wages) and health and safety policies in the EU
The papers are expected to look at the above-mentioned policy areas from a rights-based perspective, that is, to examine how the EU policies under investigation affect social entitlements, either strengthening or weakening social rights. The papers will be presented during the Winter School in the interactive presentation sessions. Participants are supposed to submit their papers five days prior to the beginning of the School to enable the discussants to read the drafts and to provide written comments.
Selection criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the applicants’ motivation, the thematic focus of their academic work and the quality of abstracts submitted. In the selection process balance will be sought between applicants from various European regions. EUSOCIALCIT does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, disability, marital status or sexual orientation, in the selection of participants for the event.
Costs and funding possibilities
Participation is free of charge. However, participants will have to cover their own travelling expenses (incl. accommodation in Milan). EUSOCIALCIT can cover the travel costs (up to €450) of a limited number of successful applicants who otherwise would not be able to attend the Winter School. Participants who want to benefit from the travel support will need to justify their need for the travel grant when filling in the registration form.
Organisation
Successful applicants will take part in the Winter School in person. The official language is English, and no simultaneous translation provided.
Deadline for applications
Applications are due by 14 July 2022.
Selected applicants will be notified of admission by 22 July 2022.
Contact persons
Francesco Corti (Francesco.corti2@unimi.it)
Eleonora Scigliano (Eleonora.scigliano@consultant.fondazionefeltrinelli.it)
(Draft) programme
Tuesday 18 October 2022
14:00-14:30
Welcome
14:30-16:00
Opening roundtable: The meaning of social rights
– Maurizio Ferrera (University of Milan)
– Herwig Verschuren (Antwerp University)
– Maarten Keune (Amsterdam University)
16:00-16:30
Coffee break
16:30-18:00
The role of the EU in family and childcare policies: the WLB directive and the Child Guarantee
– Caroline de la Porte (Copenhagen Business School)
– Christian Morabito (Save the Children)
Wednesday 19 October 2022
9:00-10:30
Protecting atypical workers’ social rights: the case of the platform workers directive
– Luca Ratti (Luxembourg University)
– Ana Munoz (Carlos III University of Madrid)
10:30-11:00
Coffee break
11:00-12:30
The social dimension of the EMU: Recovery and Resilience Facility and Social Golden Rule
– Francesco Corti (University of Milan)
– Cinzia Alcidi (Centre for European Policy Studies)
12:30-14:00
Lunch break
14:00-15:30
Resilient Welfare States in the European Union
Presentation of the book by Anton Hemerijck and Robin Huguenot-Noël, EUI
15:30-16:00
Coffee break
16:00-18:30
Parallel paper session I – presentation by participants
Topic: Empowerment through social investment
Chair: Stefano Ronchi (UNIMI)
– Discussant 1: Anna Kyriazi (UNIMI)
– Discussant 2: Joan Miró (UNIMI)
– Discussant 3: Federico Bruno (UNIMI)
– Discussant 4: Niccolò Donati (UNIMI)
20:00
Social Dinner
Thursday 20 October 2022
09:00-10:30
The EU as provider of instrumental resources to access social rights: the case of the European Labour Authority
– Federico Pancaldi (European Labour Authority)
– Ane Aranguiz (Tilburg University)
10:30-11:00
Coffee break
11:00-12:30
The Minimum Wage Directive: normative resources between subsidiarity and proportionality concerns
– Torsten Muller (European Trade Union Institute)
12:30-14:00
Lunch break
14:00-15:30
Social Policy in the European Union: state of play 2022
Presentation of the book by Bart Vanhercke (European Social Observatory)
15:30-16:00
Coffee break
16:00-19:00
Parallel paper session II – presentation by participants
Topic: Fair working conditions through labour market policy
Chair: Anna Kyriazi (UNIMI)
– Discussant 1: Stefano Ronchi (UNIMI)
– Discussant 2: Joan Miró (UNIMI)
– Discussant 3: Federico Bruno (UNIMI)
– Discussant 4: Niccolò Donati (UNIMI)
Friday 21 October 2022
9:00-10:30
Strengthening citizens’ social rights through the EU budget: the case of FEAD
– Johanna Greiss (University of Antwerp)
– Ilaria Madama (University of Milan)
10:30-11:00
Coffee break
11:00-12:30
Public webinar on the future of European Social Union
Moderator: Maurizio Ferrera (University of Milan)
– Bea Cantillon (University of Antwerp)
– Anton Hemerijck (EUI)
12:30-14:30
Lunch break
14:30-18:00
Parallel paper session III – presentation by participants
Topic: Inclusion through social policy
Chair: Niccolò Donati (UNIMI)
– Discussant 1: Stefano Ronchi (UNIMI)
– Discussant 2: Joan Miró (UNIMI)
– Discussant 3: Federico Bruno (UNIMI)
– Discussant 4: Anna Kyriazi (UNIMI)