CESI welcomes renewed commitment to implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights

The European Commission has presented a new Communicationon the European Pillar of Social Rights, taking stock of progress since the2021Pillar Action Plan and setting priorities for further implementation as thePillar approaches its tenth anniversary in 2027. 

The Communication, adopted on 22 July, confirms the Pillar’s 20principles as the EU’s framework for social rights and better living andworking conditions. Against the background of demographic change, the green anddigital transitions, the rapid development of artificial intelligence andcontinuing geopolitical and economic pressures, the European Commissionidentifies affordability, AI and the future of work, and inequalities and equalopportunities as areas requiring further attention. 

CESI supports the European Commission’s continued commitment to thePillar and welcomes the recognition that further progress depends not only onnew initiatives, but also on better implementation and enforcement of what hasalready been agreed. 

Europe faces genuine challenges to its industrial base, productivity andeconomic competitiveness. Addressing them is necessary to sustain employment,investment and the European social model. At the same time, simplification andcompetitiveness policies must not result in lower levels of protection forworkers or weaken established social and labour standards. 

The European Commission explicitly commits to pursuing simplificationwhile preserving existing rights and protections. It also intends to identifyimplementation difficulties through the European Semester and work with MemberStates and stakeholders to improve the application of the EU social acquis. Theforthcoming Fair Labour Mobility Package and elements of the Quality Jobs Actare expected to combine simpler rules with stronger enforcement of social andlabour legislation and workers’ rights. 

For CESI, this focus on delivery is particularly important. CESI hasconsistently stressed that the value of the European Pillar of Social Rightsultimately depends on whether its principles and the EU legislation supportingthem translate into tangible improvements for workers. 

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “Europe needs a strong economyand competitive industries capable of sustaining quality employment. Butcompetitiveness and workers’ rights must reinforce rather than undermine eachother. Before questioning existing protections, we should make sure that therights already agreed at European level are properly implemented and enforced.This is where the European Commission’s renewed focus on delivery can make areal difference for workers.” 

CESI also notes that effective implementation requires the involvementof all representative trade unions at European and national level and mustreflect the diversity of industrial relations systems and trade unionrepresentation across Europe. 

The Communication announces or confirms a number of further initiatives,including a Quality Jobs Act, a possible post-2030 target on job quality, aEuropean Care Deal, measures concerning algorithmic management and AI at work,and further support for the implementation of the Pay Transparency Directive.These initiatives will need to be assessed on their individual merits and inconsultation with all social partners. 

CESI also welcomes the continued attention to skills, vocationaleducation and training, access to essential services and the workforcechallenges facing long-term care. Ensuring sufficient investment in skills andstrong public and social services is important both for workers and forEurope’s capacity to respond successfully to economic, technological anddemographic change. 

Ahead of the Pillar’s tenth anniversary, the priority must now be toturn commitments into results. This requires effective enforcement of EUemployment and social legislation, adequate investment in labour markets andmeaningful inclusive and pluralist social dialogue at all relevant levels. 

The European Pillar of Social Rights can continue to provide a commonsocial compass for Europe’s economic transformation. Its credibility, however,will ultimately be measured by the extent to which its principles are reflectedin workers’ everyday employment and working conditions.

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