EU priorities: Working for a strong social Europe

29 Oktober 2020

In June 2019, the European Council adopted its new Strategic Agenda for 2019–2024, setting out the main priorities to guide the work of the EU in the coming years. The new von der Leyen Commission took office on 1 December 2019, adopting its first work programme on 29 January 2020. The programme sets out the Commission's plans for a transition to a fair, climate-neutral and digital Europe. It outlines six top priorities, which also reflect the main priorities for the European Parliament and those in the Council’s Strategic Agenda.

European Council: A new strategic agenda for the EU 2019–2024
European Parliament: Priorities
European Commission: Communication and Annex on a Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions

As part of the priorities outlined by the Commission, a number of initiatives are foreseen in 2020 and early 2021, as shown below. While these priorities remain valid, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic the Commission adjusted its work programme in May 2020 to prioritise actions needed to support the EU’s recovery. EC President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her State of the Union 2020 address on 16 September, focusing on the EU's response to COVID-19, as well as priorities around the European Green Deal and digital strategy.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament held its first-ever European Gender Equality Week from 26 to 29 October 2020, at the initiative of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM).

European Commission: 2020 Commission Work Programme – key documents
European Commission: Adjusted Commission Work Programme 2020 - Annex I: New initiatives (PDF)
European Commission: State of the Union 2020
European Parliament: European Gender Equality Week - October 26-29, 2020

Eurofound’s work directly feeds into a number of these key areas aimed at creating a strong social Europe. Explore where Eurofound’s research can provide you with the most current findings relevant to the EU policy priorities.

Priority 1: An economy that works for people

Working for social fairness and prosperity

This priority includes the following EU initiatives:

Fair minimum wages, proposing an EU Directive on adequate minimum wages on 28 October 2020
Reinforced Youth Guarantee, launching the Youth Employment Support package on 1 July, including a Council Recommendation on 'A bridge to jobs - Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee'
Action plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights (2021), to be adopted under the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU
European Child Guarantee (2021)

Eurofound topics linked with this EU priority

Minimum wage Topic	Gender equality Topic	Job creation Topic	Youth Topic

Care Topic	Social protection Topic	European Pillar of Social Rights Topic	COVID-19 Topic

Priority 2: A Europe fit for the digital age

Empowering people with a new generation of technologies. This priority includes the following initiatives:

Industrial policy focusing on job creation, launching a new industrial strategy for Europe on 10 March 2020
SME strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe, adopted on 10 March 2020
Revised Skills Agenda for Europe, adopting the new European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience on 1 July 2020
Platform work summit

Eurofound topics linked with this EU priority

Digital age Topic	Platform work Topic	New forms of employment Topic	Skills and training Topic

Teleworking Topic	Small and medium-sized enterprises Topic	Job creation Topic

Priority 3: Promoting our European way of life

Building a Union of equality in which we all have the same access to opportunities. This priority includes the following initiatives:

Revised Skills Agenda for Europe, adopting the new European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience on 1 July 2020
New pact on migration and asylum