Advancing a stronger Social Europe
Advancing a stronger Social Europe
The EU's social dimension must be reinforced in light of the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the acceleration of the green and digital transitions.
- 9 in 10 Europeans (88%) consider a social Europe to be important to them personally
- 71% of respondents consider lack of social rights to be a serious problem
Source: Eurobarometer survey on social issues, April 2021.
Member states' commitment is key: they bear the main responsibility for employment and social policies.
EU leaders commit to strengthening the EU's social dimension
Informal meeting of heads of state or government (Porto, 7-8 May 2021)
EU leaders:
- are determined to continue deepening the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights at EU and national level
- welcome the European Commission's European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and its headline targets on jobs, skills and poverty reduction
Priority to be given to:
Jobs
Creating more and better jobs, and improving job quality
Education and skills
Investing more in education, skills, vocational training, lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling
Social inclusion, fighting poverty
- reducing inequalities, defending fair wages, fighting social exclusion, tackling poverty
- fighting child poverty
- addressing the risks of exclusion for particularly vulnerable social groups (i.e. long-term unemployed, the elderly, persons with disabilities and the homeless)
Action to fight discrimination
- working to close gender gaps in employment, pay and pensions
- promoting equality and fairness for every individual
Support for young people
- addressing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on their participation in the labour market and on their education and training plans
- ensuring they become the driving force of an inclusive green and digital recovery
3 EU headline targets to be achieved by 2030
- Jobs: at least 78% of the population aged 20 to 64 should be in employment
- Skills: at least 60% of adults should be participating in training every year
- Poverty reduction: a reduction of at least 15 million in the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion
The European Pillar of Social Rights: a fundamental element of EU recovery
20 principles covering 3 areas:
1. Equal opportunities and access to the labour market
- education, training and life-long learning
- gender equality
- equal opportunities
- active support to employment
2. Fair working conditions
- secure and adaptable employment
- wages
- information about employment conditions and protection in case of dismissals
- social dialogue and involvement of workers
- work-life balance
- healthy, safe and well-adapted work environment and data protection
3. Social protection and inclusion
- childcare and support to children
- social protection
- unemployment benefits
- minimum income
- old-age income and pensions
- healthcare
- inclusion of people with disabilities
- long-term care
- housing and assistance for the homeless
- access to essential services
Milestones
- November 2017: The European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission proclaim European Pillar of Social Rights at Gothenburg Summit
- 20 principles to guide member states towards a strong social Europe
- June 2019: The European Council adopts the EU Strategic Agenda for 2019-2024
- Leaders call for the Social Pillar to be implemented at EU and member state levels
- May 2021: Porto Social Summit gives political impetus to the implementation of the Social Pillar at all levels
Last review: 4 February 2025