The so-called dual apprenticeship system, which is used in for example Germany, has often been viewed as a remedy for the high unemployment among young people in the EU. In this report, Professor Jonas Olofsson compares the apprenticeship systems in Austria, Denmark, England, Germany and Norway in order to draw lessons from different practices.

A new system of consultations similar to the Swedish “remiss” system is emerging in the European Union. In this report the authors present an overview of the system and identify similarities and differences with Swedish practices.

Development cooperation traditionally has played an important role in the European Union’s external policy. This report provides a well-timed evaluation of the impact of the Treaty of Lisbon in this particular policy area.

The global financial crisis has led to a substantial rise in youth unemployment in Europe. Furthermore, young people are today increasingly excluded not only from the labour market, but the education system as well.

In connection with the financial crisis, we have seen a fall in house prices in many EU member states. At the same time, the economic decline in several countries appears to have been amplified by high household debts.

The 2014 European Parliament elections took place after many years of severe austerity policies, comprehensive bailout programmes and increasing political resistance to European integration. Due to the strengthened role of the European Parliament by the Lisbon Treaty, the expectations on public interest, media coverage and electoral participation grew.

As a consequence of the economic crisis, a series of measures have been undertaken in order to strengthen the economic-political coordination in the EU. This development raises several questions in relation to the Swedish EU membership.

Elections to the European Parliament famously fail to excite the interest of voters. The result is low turnout at these elections, particularly in some post-communist EU member states.

This European Policy Analysis looks at the balance of powers between the European Parliament and the EU governments in the EU budget negotiations. The next long-term EU budget, covering the years 2014–2020, shows that its content is heavily constrained by how the decision process takes place.

For about fifteen years, the European Commission has taken initiatives to provide better regulation. Since the introduction of the early warning mechanism, enabling the national parliaments to have a say on whether or not the legislative proposals comply with the principle of subsidiarity, it is arguably even more important that the legislative proposals maintain a high degree of quality.