Suchergebnisse

The EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe (EU-CEE) were experiencing rising labour shortages prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing demographic decline means that the issue is likely to resurface once the pandemic is over. As a result, the bargaining power of labour has increased, wages have been generally rising ahead of labour productivity, and industrial action (strikes) - the level of which has remained low in recent decades - has emerged in some instances. In the face of labour and skill shortages, people have been investing in education. The share of employees with tertiary education has increased and vocational training has gained in importance, although active labour market policies have been used only selectively. Employers have increasingly been investing in fixed assets, especially in manufacturing, and the degree of robotisation has risen strongly. Despite domestic concerns that automation would generate massive job losses, our findings suggest that capital deepening has taken place faster where labour was in higher demand. Thus, labour was not substituted with capital, but rather the complementary effect prevailed. Employment actually increased in EU-CEE over the past two decades. Employers could hire not only the formerly unemployed, but also the formerly inactive, and used the relaxed immigration policies to attract foreign workers, especially from Ukraine and the Western Balkan countries. Czechia, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia have become net receivers of migrants, while in Bulgaria and Poland immigration largely compensates for the natives who go abroad. However, immigration from non-European countries as a general solution to the problem of labour shortages in EU-CEE is highly problematic in the current domestic political context. Overall, both our findings for the EU-CEE region over recent years and the experience of Western Europe during the 'golden age' (1950-1973) suggest that labour shortages are not in themselves an obstacle to rapid structural change and income growth. However, for such an economic model to be sustainable, more active government policies will be needed, such as greater public investment in education and training, higher minimum wages in order to encourage automation, and more extensive welfare networks in order to deal with the possible negative short-run side-effects of automation.

The objective of this study is to analyse employment developments in the gas and electricity sectors in seven Western Balkan Contracting Parties of the Energy Community. These are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99. In addition, the impact of the liberalization of the respective markets is examined (quantitatively and qualitatively) and the most likely trends for the future development are identified. In more detail, the study analyses the current state of the gas and electricity sectors in the Western Balkan countries as well as the evolution of employment in these sectors and the different areas of activities by structural features. Based on results from interviews with the main stakeholders of the energy sector, it assesses the impact of liberalization and EU energy legislation on the number of jobs in the Western Balkan countries. We also examine the process of job destruction and job creation during the period of liberalization and restructuring and explore how different categories of workers are affected. Specific emphasis is given to the impact on the quality of jobs, such as changing skill requirements, improvements in work organization and working conditions.

Countries belonging to the European neighbourhood are highly diverse. Their diversity is multidimensional (geographical, socio-economic, political, cultural, religious, etc.) and the individual dimensions all have important implications for EU policies towards the region(s), for EU institutional relations with individual neighbourhood countries and for these countries themselves – including their competitiveness. After mapping the economic situation and the competitiveness of the countries in European neighbourhood, the paper proceeds to an analysis of the selected aspects of these countries' competitiveness The economic impacts of existing agreements between EU Member States and neighbouring countries. A simulation of various scenarios covering free trade in goods between the EU and some of its neighbours is attempted. Where possible, the effects of bilateral agreements on the growth and productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Rim countries are investigated. The economic impact and the impact on competitiveness of migration and remittances flows between Rim countries and EU Member States are investigated, as is the effect these have on the labour market. Conclusions are drawn and policy recommendations made on the basis of the analysis; these cover the challenges and opportunities for the competitiveness of EU enterprises and sectors in the neighbouring countries.

Introduction Reflecting the diversity of countries in its neighbourhood, the European Union (EU) has established different cooperation processes, institutional arrangements and forums for its discussions with these countries. Each form of cooperation is characterized by its own dynamics, institutional set-up and instruments, procedures, long-term objectives and problems. The various forms of cooperation between the EU and its neighbouring countries also reflect the importance of those countries for the competitiveness of the EU and its Member States. The form of cooperation is affected by the size and structure of the economy of the particular country, its geographical location, geopolitical situation and its level of economic development, by bilateral trade and investment flows, its labour market situation and the migration flows between the country concerned and the EU. This study analyses these differences, the impacts of each form of cooperation, and the implications for the competitiveness of these countries and of the EU. Given the special connotation of the term 'European Neighbourhood' in the EU, this study instead uses the term 'European Rim' (or just 'Rim') for the countries covered. Following a mapping of the economic situation and the competitiveness of the Rim countries, the study proceeds to a brief analysis of the following aspects of the Rim's competitiveness The economic impacts of existing agreements between EU Member States and Rim countries, including in terms of FDI and trade flows. A simulation of various scenarios covering free trade in goods between the EU and some of its neighbours is attempted. Where possible, the effects of bilateral agreements on the growth and productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Rim countries are investigated. The economic impact and the impact on competitiveness of migration and remittances flows between Rim countries and EU Member States are investigated, as is the effect these have on the labour market. Conclusions are drawn and policy recommendations made on the basis of the analysis; these cover the challenges and opportunities for the competitiveness of EU enterprises and sectors in the Rim countries.