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Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment and social policy), 1 December 2025
Main results
Affordable housing
The Danish presidency presented conclusions on the upcoming European Affordable Housing Plan, which is provisionally scheduled for publication in December 2025. The conclusions were supported by 26 member states.
Having a place to call home is fundamental for all Europeans, yet many countries across the EU are facing a housing crisis. The Danish presidency, supported by 25 other member states, is calling on the Commission to deliver a comprehensive affordable housing plan that prioritises financing, sustainable construction, planning, and social inclusion, while also supporting national efforts and respecting the diversity of member states’ systems. Through coordinated action, we can promote access to safe, affordable housing for everyone in the EU.
Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, Danish Minister for Social Affairs and Housing
While stressing that housing policy remains the responsibility of member states, ministers highlighted a number of areas in which the Commission could support national, regional and local efforts, such as facilitating access to EU funding.
In particular, they highlighted four key areas of focus: financing, construction and sustainability, planning, and social inclusion.
Today’s discussion follows on from the European Council summit in October 2025, where EU leaders called on the Commission to present anambitious and comprehensive plan for affordable housing.
Carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances at work
Ministers approved the Council’s negotiating position on the sixth revision of the carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive (CMRD).
No one should get sick from going to work. By updating the rules governing exposure to dangerous chemicals in the workplace, we are reducing health risks and supporting the wellbeing and decent working conditions for workers throughout the EU. Therefore, I am pleased that we managed to reach agreement in the Council on this important file today.
Kaare Dybvad Bek, Danish Minister for Employment
The CMRD sets out measures to prevent and protect against risks linked to exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic substances at work, and includes an obligation to establish limit values where possible.
In its negotiating position, the Council further enhanced the updated rules by adding an occupational exposure limit for isoprene.
The Council agreed its negotiating position on a regulation that aims to broaden the scope of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to include workers at imminent risk of displacement.
The purpose of the EGF is to show solidarity with workers and self-employed people who have lost their job due to company restructuring, helping them get back into employment.
Under the revised regulation, workers who are at imminent risk of losing their job as a result of company restructuring would also have access to support under the EGF, to reduce the rate of dismissals and help workers transition to new roles.
The Council’s position clarifies the scope of the revised regulation. It also ensures sufficient safeguards, limits the administrative burden and establishes an upper funding limit of four million euros per year for any given company.
Based on the annual report presented by Commission Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on simplification, implementation and enforcement for the policy areas that fall within the remit of the EPSCO Council, ministers held an exchange of views on the topic of ‘Delivering simplification, implementation and enforcement in the employment and social fields’.
The ministerial debate focused on the best ways to implement the EU’s simplification agenda at both EU and national levels. In particular, they suggested ways for the Commission to achieve a 25% reduction in administrative burden by 2030, discussed the potential role of the EPSCO Council in ensuring that EU instruments are proportionate to their objectives, and explored possible national and EU-level measures to help deliver on the EU’s simplification agenda.
Ministers took note of a progress report on the proposed equal treatment directive, which would prohibit discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation in areas relating to social protection, social advantages, education, and access to goods and services, including housing.
The Commission presented the European Semester autumn package, which includes the Joint Employment Report and a proposal for a recommendation on human capital in the EU.
Ministers also exchanged views on the promotion of social inclusion and cohesion through coherent social and housing policies.
Under ‘any other business’, ministers received information on topics including the state of play of the traineeships directive and the Council recommendation on a reinforced quality framework for traineeships, the Tripartite Social Summit, and the EU Talent Pool.
Informal lunch debate
Over lunch, ministers took part in an informal debate on the topic of ‘Fair recruitment: decent working conditions for all posted workers and a level playing field for companies in the EU’.
