EU priorities: Working for a strong social Europe

The European Council’s Strategic Agenda for 2019–2024, adopted in June 2019, sets out the main priorities to guide the work of the EU in the coming years. In December 2019, the von der Leyen Commission set out plans for a transition to a fair, climate-neutral and digital Europe. It outlined six top priorities, also reflecting 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 have already been set in motion. However, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and also the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Commission has had to adjust its work programme to prioritise actions needed to support the EU’s recovery as well as support the Member States and citizens of Ukraine. EC President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her third State of the Union address on 14 September 2022, outlining the priorities for the year ahead. She spoke about the huge impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the importance of European solidarity, the energy crisis we face, the EU’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of NextGenerationEU for sustaining jobs and growth. She touched on the future of Europe, achieving the transition to a digital and net-zero economy, supporting our young people, while also strengthening our democracies. She also highlighted a number of proposals stemming from the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe, for instance a new initiative on mental health. She proposed 2023 as the European Year of Skills, following on from the European Year of Youth in 2022. 

The Commission’s 2023 work programme outlines the next steps in its agenda towards delivering on the ambitions the Commission set at the outset of its mandate and further steer the EU towards a sustainable recovery, driven also by the conlusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe. The 2023 programme lists important legislative proposals across all six priorities.

The EU has had to adapt and respond to the evolving crisis brought about by the war waged by Russia on Ukraine. The war has resulted in massive destruction in Ukraine and a huge influx of refugees to the EU, prompting a range of support measures at EU level to help Member States meet the needs of refugees. The European Council has activated the first-ever Temporary Protection Directive, which includes special protection for children, access to education and healthcare, as well as access to jobs, accommodation and housing. 

• European Commission: 2023 Commission work programme – key documents
• European Commission: State of the Union 2022
• European Commission: Ukraine: EU support to help Member States meet the needs of refugees

Eurofound research

Eurofound’s work directly feeds into a number of these key areas and aims to inform effective policies that can lead to recovery and resilience in creating a strong social Europe. This work falls under six main topic areas in our programming document for 2021–2024.

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:

• European Care Strategy, presented by the Commission on 7 September 2022
• European Year of Youth 2022, putting the spotlight on the importance of European youth to build a better future
• European Child Guarantee (2021), adopted by the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) in June 2021
• European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, presented by the Commission on 4 March 2021
• Reinforced Youth Guarantee, launching the Youth Employment Support package on 1 July 2020, including a Council Recommendation on 'A bridge to jobs - Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee', backed up by significant EU financing under NextGenerationEU
• Fair minimum wages, with the European Parliament and Member States reaching political agreement on 7 June 2022 on the EU Directive on adequate minimum wages proposed by the Commission in October 2020

Eurofound topics linked with this EU priority

Other related content

• Event 8 September 2022: Youth first! Employment, skills and social policies that work for young Europeans in times of uncertainty
• Podcast: Living in a new era of uncertainty
• Data and resources: Minimum wages pilot project
• Publication: Minimum wages in 2022: Annual review
• Blog: How to ensure adequate minimum wages in an age of inflation
• Publication series: Minimum wages in the EU
• Publication: COVID-19 and older people: Impact on their lives, support and care
• News: Eurofound welcomes European Year of Youth 2022
• Podcast: The impact of COVID-19 on young people in the EU
• Publication: European Jobs Monitor 2021: Gender gaps and the employment structure
• Publication: Understanding the gender pay gap: What role do sector and occupation play?
• Publication series: European Jobs Monitor
• Publication: Living, working and COVID-19 (Update April 2021): Mental health and trust decline across EU as pandemic enters another year
• Publication: COVID-19: Implications for employment and working life
• Blogs: All blogs related to COVID-19 research
• Publication: Access to care services: Early childhood education and care, healthcare and long-term care
• Publication series: European Company Surveys
• European Industrial Relations Dictionary: European Semester
• Infographics: Youth in the EU; Living, working and COVID-19; Minimum wages; Gender equality

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, updating it in May 2021 to take account of COVID-19
• 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 proposal to protect people working through platforms, putting forward a proposal for a Directive on improving working conditions in platform work on 9 December 2021
• Europe’s digital decade - 2030 digital targets, proposing a Digital Compass on 9 March 2021 for the EU's digital decade that evolves around four principal points: skills, infrastructures, business and government
• European Year of Skills 2023, as announced by EC President von der Leyen during her SOTEU address in October 2022 

Eurofound topics linked with this EU priority

Other related content

• Webinar 28 September 2022: LIVE webinar: Regulating platform work – The EU’s big balancing act
• Blog: Regulating platform work in Europe: A work in progress
• Publication: Telework in the EU: Regulatory frameworks and recent updates
• Data and resources: The digital age: Automation, digitisation and platforms (online resource)
• Publication: Business not as usual: How EU companies adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Blog: Charting a positive path for platform workers 
• Publication: Back to the future: Policy pointers from platform work scenarios
• Data: Platform economy repository
• Publication: Right to disconnect: Exploring company practices
• Article: Workers want to telework but long working hours, isolation and inadequate equipment must be tackled
• Publication: Regulations to address work–life balance in digital flexible working arrangements
• Blog: The COVID-19 recovery needs a green, social, digitally skilled Europe
• Blog: How to use the surge in teleworking as a real chance to include people with disabilities
• Publication: Telework and ICT-based mobile work: Flexible working in the digital age
• Webinar: #AskTheExpert: The rise of the telework generation – What impact for working conditions?
• Webinar: Flexible working in the digital age - Is everyone a winner?
• Publication series: New forms of employment
• Publication series: European Jobs Monitor
• Pilot project: Future of manufacturing in Europe (FOME)

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:

• European Year of Youth 2022, putting the spotlight on the importance of European youth to build a better future
• 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, presenting a proposal on 23 September 2020 to the European Parliament and Council

Other related content:

• Webinar: Watch the video - Joint webinar: Equality and inclusion in a post-pandemic EU
• Publication: COVID-19: A turning point for upward convergence in health and healthcare in the EU?
• Publication: Tackling labour shortages in EU Member States
• Blog: The pandemic aggravated labour shortages in some sectors; the problem is now emerging in others
• Blog: The COVID-19 recovery needs a green, social, digitally skilled Europe
• Blog: Racial discrimination is not a thing of the past in the EU
• Publication: How your birthplace affects your workplace
• Publication: Concept and practice of a living wage
• Publication: Challenges and prospects in the EU: Quality of life and public services
• Publication series: European Quality of Life Surveys

Priority 4: A European Green Deal

Striving to be the first climate-neutral continent. This priority includes the following initiatives:

• European Green Deal to ensure a transition to a climate-neutral continent which is fair and just for all and where ‘no one will be left behind’
• Fit for 55 package presented in July 2021 as part of the European Green Deal to deliver the EU’s 2030 climate targets

Other related content

• Data story: Energy poverty looms as cost of living increases: Data behind the difficulties
• Blog: Is telework really a ‘green’ choice?
• Blog: Shifting the focus from energy subsidies to reducing energy dependence
• Publication: EU-ANSA mapping report: Socioeconomic aspects of sustainable development
• Publication: Exploring the social challenges of low carbon energy policies in Europe
• Podcast: Sustainable work
• Article: Twin transition and pandemic challenge Eurofound to increase expertise, strengthen partnerships, expand reach, says new Director
• Publication: Distributional impacts of climate policies in Europe
• Blog: What can companies do to spark innovation in the workplace?
• Article: The COVID-19 recovery needs a green, social, digitally skilled Europe
• Publication: Employment implications of the Paris Climate Agreement
• Blog: Europe’s low-carbon transition makes economic sense
• Pilot project: Future of manufacturing in Europe (FOME)

Priority 5: A stronger Europe in the world

Europe to strive for more by strengthening our unique brand of responsible global leadership. This priority includes the following initiatives:

• European Platform tackling undeclared work, set up as a permanent working group at the European Labour Authority (ELA) in May 2021
• #EU4FairWork campaign in 2020, the first EU campaign about the benefits of declared work, with participation of the ELA

Eurofound content linked with this EU priority

Other related content

• Database: EU PolicyWatch - War in Ukraine
• Blog: Eurofound survey reveals widespread support for Ukraine
• News: Eurofound stands with Ukraine
• Blog: Recovering from this pandemic means rebuilding hope for the future
• Publication: Towards the future of Europe: Social factors shaping optimism and pessimism among citizens
• Blog: All aboard: Hauling undeclared workers onto the pandemic rescue boats
• Publication: Working conditions in a global perspective
• Publication: Life and society in the EU candidate countries
• About Eurofound: Stakeholders and partners
• Publication series: European Working Conditions Surveys
• Publication series: European Quality of Life Surveys

Priority 6: A new push for European democracy

Nurturing, protecting and strengthening our democracy. This priority includes the following initiatives:

• Gender Equality Strategy, published on 5 March 2020
• Proposal on pay transparency, presented by the Commission on 4 March 2021
• Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021–2030, adopted by the Commission on 3 March 2021
• Green paper on ageing, adopted by the Commission on 27 January 2021
• Review of the urban agenda for Europe
• Long-term vision for rural areas up to 2040
• Conference on the Future of Europe, which ran from April 2021 to May 2022
• European Gender Equality Week - October 24-30 2022, the third such event hosted by the European Parliament

Eurofound topics linked with this EU priority

Other related content

• Data story: Trust in national institutions is falling: Data behind the decline
• Podcast: Gender equality
• Publication: Monitoring convergence in the European Union: Looking backwards to move forward – Upward convergence through crises
• Publication: Understanding the gender pay gap: What role do sector and occupation play?
• Publication: Towards the future of Europe: Social factors shaping optimism and pessimism among citizens
• Blog: Gender pay transparency: Advancing the cause through a truly European proposal
• Blog: COVID-19 could be a catalyst for fundamental change that will define the Future of Europe
• Publication: Upward convergence in the EU: Definition, measurement and trends
• Data: EU convergence monitoring hub
• Publication: Societal change and trust in institutions
• Publication: Is rural Europe being left behind?
• Publication: What makes capital cities the best places to live?
• Publication: Improving the monitoring of posted workers in the EU
• Publication series: Challenges and prospects in the EU
• Publication series: European Quality of Life Surveys

Further reading

• See the full list of topics covered in Eurofound research
• European Commission: 6 Commission priorities for 2019–2024
• Publication: Priorities for a new Europe