Topic of thesis:

The Politics of Pension Reform under EU Constraints: Southern European Trade Unions Facing Conditionality

Abstract Text:

Between 2010 and 2013 the governments of Spain, Italy and Portugal implemented various pension reforms. External factors such as the economic crisis and the European Union pressures on governments to reduce the budget deficits are determinant to understand the policymaking processes of those reforms.

Portugal was bailed out in 2011 and was put under ‘hard’ and ‘formal’ conditionality. The Portuguese Economic Adjustment Programme made an explicit mention about the need to cut pension’s expenditure. On the other hand, Spain and Italy has experienced ‘hard’ but ‘informal’ conditionality. References about the need to reform the pension system in both countries have been common in the European Commission reports and in the declarations of EU representatives during the EU Summits.

Trade unions have reacted differently vis-à-vis the pensions’ reforms. In Portugal, they have strongly mobilized against the reforms and have called for several general strikes. In Spain, they signed a trilateral agreement with the PSOE and the employer’s organisations to reform the pension system. Later, they opposed the PP reforms but they did not mobilize against them. In Italy, the trade unions have been divided around this issue and have not mobilized against the pension reforms.

The objective of this research project is to observe the links between the EU constraints and the trade unions’ positions. Were trade unions aware of the EU pressures? Did those pressures have any impact on their strategies? This project attempts to answer to those questions by observing the processes of political exchange between governments, trade unions and the EU. In so doing, the causal mechanisms explaining unions’ behaviour vis-à-vis EU constraints will be pointed out.

Research interests:  Comparative political economy, Trade unions, Southern Europe, European Union, Welfare State reforms, Social and public policies and the Politics of Austerity

Graduated from: University of Seville (Spain)

Degree Master’s in Politics and Democracy (UNED, Spain), Master’s in International Relations (London Metropolitan University) and Journalism Degree (University of Seville, Spain)

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