One year after the Draghi report: Build competitiveness together with workers

The Draghi Report makes one thing clear: Europe needs to become faster, more innovative, and more resilient if it is to hold its ground in a multipolar world. Yet, as CESI stressed in its recently adopted Resolution on a New EU Roadmap for Quality Jobs, the path to competitiveness cannot and must not be paved with weaker labour rights, lower wages or social deregulation. This would only hollow out Europe’s most important resource – its people.

Instead, CESI calls for an agenda where simplification for businesses goes hand in hand with investment in workers. That means:

• Reducing unnecessary bureaucracy for companies – without undermining the enforcement of existing labour rights.
• Higher investment in quality education, vocational training and lifelong learning, so that workers can thrive in rapidly transforming industries.
• Enhanced occupational health and safety in all sectors, including those reshaped by green and digital transitions.
• Ensuring that collective bargaining and inclusive social dialogue are placed at the heart of the EU’s competitiveness strategy.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “A workforce that is skilled, healthy and secure is not a drag on competitiveness – It is its very foundation. Europe needs competitiveness, but not at the expense of the rights and health of its workers. A workforce that is respected, well-trained and healthy is Europe’s greatest competitive advantage.”

One year after the Draghi report, the message from CESI is clear: Competitiveness and quality jobs must advance together. Europe will only succeed globally if it builds strength by investing in its workers and upholding its social model.

Klaus Heeger added: “We welcome Ms von der Leyen’s announcement of a new legislative EU Quality Jobs Act during her State of the Union speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week. This will be a chance to make sure that current challenges in economies and labour markets – digitalisation, green measures, skills shortages and enhanced competitiveness – are addressed and managed in sustainable ways, together.”