The European Pillar of Social Rights sets out 20 key principles and rights essential for fair and well-functioning labour markets and social protection systems.
The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan turns the Principles into concrete actions to benefit citizens. It also proposes headline targets for the EU to reach by 2030.
Delivering the Pillar of Social Rights is a shared responsibility for the EU institutions, national, regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society.
Three ambitious EU targets by 2030
Where we stand
The coronavirus crisis has put a halt on a six-year positive employment progress, with an employment rate of 72.4% by the third quarter of 2020.
By 2016, only 37% of adults were participating in learning activities every year.
Eurostat figures show that in 2021, over one in five people in the EU was at risk of poverty or social exclusion (21.7% of the population or 95.4 million people). Child poverty stood at 24.4%.
National targets
EU employment and social affairs ministers presented their national targets on 16 June 2022. Combined, Member States’ commitments set the EU firmly on the path to achieving or even exceeding the EU headline targets.
What Europeans think about Social Europe
Small, practical things such as diploma validation, getting a social security number, salary administration and everything involved with moving from one EU country to another should be easy.
I work in a company that has diversity and inclusion at its heart and makes a lot of effort to avoid biases based on gender or any other diversity. I think the EU could look at these examples as we have great ideas to offer which could be replicated in other companies.
It should be easy and attractive to be self-employed in Europe, parallel to a job, training or a pension. On the one hand this can lead to better income and on the other it engages people of all ages and connects them across national borders.
Public consultation
These testimonials are part of a large-scale public consultation with over 1000 written contributions from Member States, regions, cities, social partners, civil society organisations, international organisations, businesses, think tanks and citizens. In addition, the Commission consulted over 1500 key stakeholders – including the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – with dedicated webinars. The Action Plan draws on its results.
Eurobarometer survey
9 in 10 Europeans (88%) consider social Europe to be important to them personally, according to a 2021 Eurobarometer survey on social issues.
More on the Eurobarometer survey
Porto Social Summit and Porto Social Commitment
The Social Summit in Porto on 7-8 May 2021, organised by the Portuguese Council Presidency, provided the opportunity to reaffirm the commitment and ambition to put people first in Europe’s recovery and beyond. The Porto Social Summit was also an occasion to rally forces to renew, at the highest political level, the commitment to implement the Social Pillar.
On 7 May, partners signed up to the three 2030 headline targets set in the Commission’s European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan in a joint Porto Social Commitment.
On 8 May, the members of the European Council adopted the Porto Declaration on social affairs.
On 25 June, the European Council welcomed the EU headline targets of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, in line with the Porto Declaration.
Voices from around Europe at the Porto Social Summit
Charles Michel:
“To those who say that social Europe is invisible, I would say – invisible as the air that we breathe. That air is invisible but essential to human life.”
David Maria Sassoli:
“The Porto European Summit must not be a point of arrival, but a starting point towards a social recovery.”
Emmanuel Macron:
“As Europeans, we are shaping the answer to the crisis we are facing: a social response, in line with our values.”
Joining forces to deliver a more social Europe
Delivering on the European Pillar of Social Rights is a shared political commitment and responsibility of the EU institutions, national, regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society, all having a role to play in line with their competences.
Member States should make full use of the unprecedented EU funds available to support reforms and investments: the EU budget, NextGenerationEU, the European Social Fund Plus, and more.
The engagement of national, regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society is essential to the implementation of the Pillar.
Member States should make the best use of the European Semester to coordinate economic, employment and social reforms and investments, putting people and their wellbeing at the centre.
Guiding and international EU action in the social area helps affirm the EU’s role as a responsible global leader, promoting decent work and social inclusion worldwide.
Timeline and key actions
The Action Plan sets out a number of EU actions that the Commission is committed to take during the current mandate (until the end of 2024), building on the many actions already undertaken since the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2017. This Action Plan is the Commission’s contribution to turn the principles of the Social Pillar into reality.
- Already achieved in 2020
European Gender Equality Strategy
Industrial Strategy and SME Strategy
Temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE)
Revised Multi-Annual Financial Framework 2021-2027
Recovery and Resilience Facility and REACT-EU
European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience
Council Recommendation for Vocational Education and Training
Youth Employment Support, accompanied by Reinforced Youth Guarantee
European Education Area
Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027)
Anti-Racism Action Plan
EU Roma Strategic Framework on Equality, Inclusion and Participation, accompanied by a Council Recommendation on Roma Equality, Inclusion and Participation
Renovation Wave
Pact for Skills
Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion
LGBTIQ Equality Strategy
Proposal for a Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages
Pharmaceuticals Strategy - Already achieved in Q1 2021
Green Paper on Ageing
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan
European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan
Proposal for a Revision of the Social Scoreboard
New Disability Rights Strategy
Binding Pay Transparency Measures
Effective Active Support to Employment
Europe’s Digital Decade
Strategy on the Rights of the Child, accompanied by European Child Guarantee
Joint Report on the Application of the Employment Equality Directive and the Race Equality Directive - Already achieved in Q2 2021
A Trusted and Secure European E-ID
Updating the new Industrial Strategy for Europe
Revision of the non-financial reporting Directive
Guidance Notices on Public Procurement of Innovation and on Socially Responsible Public Procurement
New Occupational Safety and Health Strategy
European Platform on Combating Homelessnes - Already achieved in Q3 2021
Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy
- Already achieved in Q4 2021
Initiative on Sustainable Corporate Governance
Communication on Decent Work Worldwide
Action Plan for the Social Economy
Individual Learning Accounts and Micro-Credentials Framework
Council Recommendation on education for environmental sustainability
Extension and adaption of the Joint Employment Report
- 2022
Implementation report of the Working Time Directive
Revision of the Barcelona targets
Initiative on Pathways to School Success
Review of the Quality Framework for Traineeships
Initiative on collective bargaining for the self-employed
Report of the new high-level expert group on access to adequate and sustainable social protection
New tools and indicators on access to healthcare
Legal proposals to reduce workers’ exposure to hazardous chemicals, including asbestos
Council Recommendation on minimum income
- 2024
First evaluation of the European Labour Authority
- 2025
Review of the Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights
