Remarks by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on the European Pillar of Social Rights

Let me begin with a question.

What does ”the European model” mean in a person's everyday life?

Like, for example, for a fresh graduate looking for a first professional opportunity.

Or for a family or single parent struggling to find affordable care.

Or for a worker whose job is being transformed, disrupted or simply disappears.

It means that people are never left to manage on their own in their hour of need.

It means social rights that are guaranteed, that are a lived reality, every single day, for every single citizen, no matter where they are born or live in Europe, no matter who they are.

And this is, above all, a key promise of the European Social Model.

With the European Pillar of Social Rights, adopted in 2017, the EU equipped itself with a powerful compass covering social rights to be respected and pursued throughout all work in the EU, in all policies.

As we adopted this communication today, on what the Pillar delivered so far and on what directions we need to reinforce, I must say that.

the EPSR is really not about the past, not about social traditions. It is also not a vehicle in itself.

It is, actually, the trusted driver of the EU project into a future of immense possibility as well as immense uncertainty.

The EPSR has been gradually translated into concrete European, national or regional policies in the past decade. From fighting disability to work life balance, from minimum wages to a Pact for Skills. Child Guarantee. Three headline targets.

The Pillar guided Europe's policy choices through major crises, such as the Covid pandemic, strengthening our resilience by protecting people.

It must continue to guide us as we shape our political and economic choices, as we manage the many disruptions.

We must never underestimate how fundamental the ESPR is for our young generations and for the future of the EU.

More concretely, today, through the Communication we just adopted in the college of commissioners, we double down on Europe's social promise by focusing efforts at EU level on three key neds.

A decent life must remain within reach for any person – work on affordability and cost of living.

Technology that must, above all, serve and empower all people.

Equal rights and opportunities for all, no matter their origin or status.

Think of a person with a disability who has important skills but cannot make use of them through employment because they lack a certain set of services, support or financial incentives.

Or think of someone that has not worked at all or for a long time, because of lack of access to support, to services or because of inadequate or uncoordinated support.

Think of the tens of the millions of parents in Europe, tens of millions even, the vast majority of them mothers, who, simply because of lack of accessible or affordable childcare, can never really hold on to a career, to a quality job or even aspire to return to employment after kids.

These are realities of untapped potential for our labour markets, for our economies, which is so strained by shortages.

These are difficult livelihoods and people exposed to social exclusion and even poverty, by lack of adequate support towards relevant and quality employment.

To date, almost 50 million working-age people are outside the EU labour market.

We are not talking about those that are looking for a job and cannot find one. It is not about the unemployed, it is not about the active labour forces.

We are talking about the reality of tens of millions not even looking for a job. For causes that are vert divers. And most of these causes can be addressed!

This is why today we are launching the first-stage consultation of European social partners on a possible EU initiative for job activation.

The aim is not to push people into any job

The aim is to open a viable path for most of these people towards a quality job, that responds equally to their abilities and to the demands of the economy.

That can mean different responses, based on a combination of supportive actions: efficient identification and outreach of those that are inactive, the proper guidance, the right training, but also combining these with access to childcare, to elderly long-term care or better coordination between employment, education, health and social services.

I want to thank my colleague, Commissioner Šuica, for our shared commitment to deliver on this activation initiative.

The Directive on adequate minimum wages has already supported significant increases, especially where wages were lowest. This week, we will present an implementation report.

Next year, we will launch a European Care Deal.

Care cannot remain only a family responsibility. It is essential social infrastructure. We want affordable, quality care, fewer staff shortages and better working conditions for care workers.

Now imagine a worker whose tasks or performance are assessed by an algorithm.

AI is already changing jobs, tasks, skills and working conditions at extraordinary speed.

We are now discussing possible EU action, including protection as AI and algorithmic management become more common – Quality Jobs Act.

We are also launching a high-level group on AI and the labour market to guide future European action.

Talent is everywhere in Europe. Opportunity is not. At least, not yet.

A woman should not be paid less because she is a woman.

A young person should not have fewer opportunities because they come from a rural community, a disadvantaged family

A graduate should never be less valued and respected socially because they chose a vocational school.

We will help companies, especially SMEs, implement the Pay Transparency Directive.

We will also present a Right to Stay Strategy so people can access jobs, education and essential services wherever they live.

And we will adopt a new strategy to make vocational education and training more attractive.

This commitment is already beginning inside the Commission. For the first time, VET graduates will be able to apply for the Commission's Blue Book traineeship programme. A vocational route should not mean fewer doors, but different doors leading to equally valuable opportunities. I thank Commissioner Serafin for coordinating this initiative.

In 2027, we celebrate the first decade of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

We can know that this compass remains strong and relevant when people earn a decent salary for their work, when they can access affordable care, when they and their children have access to good education and healthcare, when they get their skills easily recognised for the job they want, when they are protected against discrimination, when strong social dialogue builds trust in society.

The best way we can celebrate the EPSR is to recommit to implement it, principle by principle, point by point, through each policy, be it European, national or regional, in each domain.

The Pillar must shape European choices from the start: how we build an economy that works for people but also a society that is secure, resilient and that not only holds together but rises together.

We treat a lot Europe's strength in terms of how agile it can be in responding to multiple challenges and even crises.

But, in the end, it will all come down to how well we are able to empower and protect our people as we, together, navigate all of these transformations.

Let me end with the most fundamental promise we make to every worker:

That they should be able to return home safely from their workplace. That their work never costs their health.

This year marks 70 years since the Marcinelle mining disaster.

On 8 August 1956, 262 workers of 12 different nationalities lost their lives. Most were Italians who had travelled to Belgium in search of work and a better future.

Their sacrifice reminds us why workplace protection, dignity, and solidarity matter.

Today, following an initiative from Parliament and the Member States, we decided to propose August 8^th as the European Day in Remembrance of the Victims of Accidents at Work and for the Protection and Dignity of Workers.

Yet tragedies still happen. Last week, six workers lost their lives in a construction-site accident here in Brussels. Our thoughts remain with their families and all those affected.

Working conditions, health and safety have improved significantly in Europe since Marcinelle.

Our responsibility remains intact, though.

Zero tolerance, zero deaths from work-related causes – this is a non-negotiable aim in Europe.