The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) provides research-based findings and knowledge to help develop social and work-related policies. The ultimate aim is to help plan and design better living and working conditions in Europe.

What does Eurofound do?

Eurofound's core activities:

• To carry out research on social and work-related issues
• To communicate the results to EU & national policymakers.

It conducts research projects and 3 pan-European surveys on:

• working conditions
• quality of life
• company practices.

It maintains 2 observatories to provide up-to-date information on:

• Employment changes
• working life.

Its work is used to provide an evidence base for policy - such as in the recent European initiatives on youth unemployment and the youth guarantee.

Eurofound disseminates its research findings and policy-relevant knowledge through:

• print & online publications
• its website & social media
• seminars & conferences
• its visitors programme.

Structure

Eurofound's director and deputy director report to a tripartite Governing Board with 87 members:

• 84 representatives of EU governments, employers & workers
• 3 people representing the European Commission.

The Governing Board also has representatives from the EFTA countries as observers. It meets at least once a year to discuss and adopt the work programme and annual budget.

An executive board, known as the Bureau, meets more often to facilitate the Governing Board's work.

How does Eurofound work?

Every 4 years, Eurofound reviews its strategy and what it is aiming to achieve. After wide-ranging consultations with the Board and the EU institutions, it draws up a 4-year work programme. A detailed annual work programme is then drawn up. Eurofound carries out the projects comprising the annual work programme using the research and monitoring resources described above.

The Foundation works together closely on joint research and communication activities with its sister agencies:

• the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)
• the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
• the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA)
• the European Agency for Safety & Health at Work (EU-OSHA)
• the European Training Foundation (ETF).

Who benefits?

The main target group is EU-level decision-makers, specifically:

• EU institutions
• EU-level employers
• EU-level trade union groups.

Other organisations it serves include:

• national governments, employers' organisations & trade unions
• parliaments
• research institutes
• universities.

Recent activities providing input into decision-making & policy