CESI European Parliament breakfast event: Spotlight on challenges in public administrations

The event took place in the framework of CESI's EU co-funded PillACT project, which aims to strengthen the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) across Europe.

Bringing together policymakers, social partners and public administration experts, the breakfast debate focused on the excessive and structural use of fixed term work contracts in the public sector, staffing shortages and outsourcing practices, all of which increasingly threaten the quality and resilience of public services in Europe.

For CESI, public administrations are at the heart of Social Europe. They are central to delivering a Social Europe that works for citizens. Yet across the EU, the public services are facing structural pressures: an aging workforce, recruitment and retention difficulties, and a growing reliance on non-permanent contracts and outsourcing models. These trends risk undermining both working conditions and the quality, accessibility and continuity of public services, directly impacting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The meeting explored how public authorities can lead by example as quality employers, in line with the European Commission’s upcoming Quality Jobs Act.

Opened with a welcome address by MEP Dennis Radtke, the event was followed by introductory remarks from Klaus Heeger, Secretary General of CESI, who emphasised: “There is an urgent need to protect quality jobs in the public sector so that it remains a backbone of our society, to ensure decent working conditions particularly in view of a future European Quality Jobs Act.”

Representatives from EU institutions and trade unions, including from Eurofound, Eurofedop, the European Commission, CESI’s Europe Academy, and the Spanish Central Independent and Public Employees' Trade Union (CSIF) took the floor to highlight challenges and remedies.

The breakfast identified concrete, structural solutions, including:

1. reducing reliance on precarious employment, improving the implementation of EU labour law legislation and increasing sanctions for non compliant authorities/Member States
2. improving workforce planning and skills development
3. addressing burnout and workload pressures
4. ensuring accountability in outsourcing practices

Kjartan Björnsson from the European Commission underlined how the EU’s Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) can support labour market and public administration reforms – promoting fair contracts, better workforce planning, and quality jobs. He stressed that modernisation can reduce temporary work and improve stability, but that it must also tackle precarious contracts, ensure equal pay, invest in skills and leadership, and address staff shortages in key sectors like health and education.

From debate to action: strengthening Europe's public sector

Following the breakfast debate, CESI’s Expert Commission 'Public Administrations' (PA) convened and elected its new leadership, following CESI’s last Congress:

• President: Otto Aiglsperger, GÖD/Eurofedop (Austria)
• Vice-Presidents: Andreas Hemsing, dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion (Germany), and María Gema Ramírez Martínez, Spanish Central Independent and Public Employees' Trade Union (CSIF) (Spain).

The Expert Commission then focused its discussions on two main topics: The EU’s Preparedness Strategy from a civilian preparedness perspective and the EU’s Quality Jobs initiative (Roadmap and forthcoming Act). The discussion explored challenges related to preparedness measures, particularly in terms of timelines and funding for a whole-of-society approach and ensuring accessibility for all citizens.

The participants emphasised that social rights are a key pillar of societal resilience. With regards to the EU’s Preparedness Strategy, they stressed the need for a well-staffed, well-trained, and secure public workforce to effectively manage future crises, especially in light of current pressures on public sectors like ageing and understaffing.

Based on these exchanges, the Expert Commission adopted a position paper on the role of public services in times of crisis preparedness.

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