What triggers growth? How can the EU Member States ensure conditions that have a proven positive effect on growth? These questions are relevant, not least considering the recent financial and economic crisis which represents the deepest downturn in world economy since Second World War. How important are institutions – that is to say, formal rules and capacity to enforce those rules – for the economic performance of a country? This SIEPS report discusses the relation between the quality of institutions and economic growth.

All remaining restrictions to the free movement of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens will have to be removed before the end of 2013. In a number of EU member states this has renewed fears of “benefit tourism”.

The economic crisis has revealed a number of weaknesses in the structures of the EU and the EMU. The measures taken in the EU in order to thwart the crisis have been introduced at a pace that has sometimes made it difficult to keep up with developments.

In July 2010, the European Council decided on the organisation and functiong of the European External Action Service (EEAS). The EEAS is currently under review, and this new SIEPS report offers – for the first time – an article-by-article analysis of the Council Decision.

The Treaty on European Union stipulates that in its relations with the wider world, the EU shall uphold and promote its values and interests; it shall also contribute ‘to the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations’. In this report, the author discusses the evolving interface between the EU and international law after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.

This special SIEPS publication aims to contribute, in practical legal terms, to the review of the organization and functioning of the European External Action Service (EEAS). In particular, it offers specific recommendations for the amendment of Council Decision 2010/427/EU on which the Service’s operation is based.

The European Parliament elections in May 2014 will be the most important to date. With the new powers of the European Parliament under the Lisbon Treaty, a new majority will shape EU policies in many important areas, from regulation of the single market to the free movement of persons, international trade agreements, reform of the common agricultural policy, carbon taxes, and so on.

During the first six months of this year Ireland holds the EU Presidency for the seventh time. With the motto "For Stability, Jobs and Growth" the Irish government has expressed its intention to focus on economic growth and implementation of existing decisions, rather than presenting new initiatives.

Where is Europe heading and what is left of the integration though law project? At the time of the greatest crisis facing the EU since its inception, it is important to see things in its context and think about the developments at hand in the light of the grander transformations that constituted the Union.  In this EPA, Christian Joerges offers his view of the “bigger picture” and reconstructs the trajectories of European integration in the conflicts law perspective.

Several EU Member States have developed measures to postpone retirement and prolong working life. In this analysis, the authors highlight the main evolutions in the area, and the current situation of the 50-74 year olds on the labour market in eight European countries.