The European Commission sets out its ambition for a strong Social Europe focuses on jobs and skills

Today (4 March) the Commission sets out its ambition for a strong Social Europe that focuses on jobs and skills for the future and paves the way for a fair, inclusive and resilient socio-economic recovery.

The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan outlines concrete actions to further implement the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights as a joint effort by the Members States and the EU, with an active involvement of social partners and civil society.

It also proposes employment, skills and social protection headline targets for the EU to be achieved by 2030.

This is an opportunity for Europe to update its social rulebook, while successfully navigating the transformations brought about by new societal, technological and economic developments and by the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic.

The Commission has already started to put the Pillar’s principles into action, proposing initiatives such as Youth Employment Support and Adequate Minimum Wages in 2020.

Today the Commission is also presenting a Commission Recommendation on Effective Active Support to Employment following the COVID-19 crisis (EASE), to support a job-rich recovery.

EU targets for a common ambition by 2030

The Action Plan sets three headline targets for the EU to be achieved by 2030:

• At least 78% of people aged 20 to 64 should be in employment.
• At least 60% of all adults should participate in training every year.
• The number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion should be reduced by at least 15 million.

EASE

As a concrete action under Principle 4 of the Pillar, the Commission today presents a Recommendation on Effective Active Support to Employment following the COVID-19 crisis (EASE).

The Recommendation promotes job creation and job-to-job transitions from declining sectors towards expanding sectors, notably the digital and green ones.

These new measures should contain three elements:

(1) hiring incentives and entrepreneurial support;

(2) upskilling and reskilling opportunities;

(3) enhanced support by employment services. EU funds, including from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the European Social Fund Plus, are available to help Member States finance their EASE measures.