The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) is a European Union Agency, whose role is to provide knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies. Eurofound was set up in 1975 to contribute to effective policies that lead to the improvement of quality of life and work in a fair and competitive Europe.

What does Eurofound do?

Eurofound's core activities:

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

It conducts research projects and 3 EU-wide surveys on:

• working conditions
• quality of life
• company practices.

It maintains 3 observatories to provide up-to-date information on:

• employment changes
• quality of life
• working life.

Eurofound’s 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 and online publications
• its website and social media
• seminars and conferences
• its visitor programme
• data visualisation tools
• country pages.

Structure

Eurofound has around 100 staff specialising in socioeconomic research, communication and public administration. It is managed by a director and deputy director, who report in turn to a Governing Board. The Board is made up of representatives of employers, workers, EU governments and the Commission. The Board meets at least once a year to discuss and adopt the multiannual and annual work programmes, and the annual budget.

The Board also has representatives from the EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries as observers. An executive board, known as the Bureau, meets every two months to facilitate the Governing Board’s work.

Eurofound also maintains a Brussels Liaison Office, with the dual role of strengthening the visibility and impact of Eurofound research at EU level, and monitoring developments in policymaking.

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 four-year programming document. The multiannual programme 2017-2020 sets out a specific work programme for each year of the programming period. Eurofound carries out the projects the annual work programme using the research and monitoring resources described above.

Eurofound 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 Eurofound’s main target group is EU-level decision-makers, specifically:

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

Eurofound also seeks to influence:

• national governments, employer organisations, trade unions and civil society organisations
• parliaments
• research institutes
• universities.