President Juncker co-hosts Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth in Gothenburg

On 17 November, President Juncker and Swedish Prime Minister Löfven will jointly host EU leaders for the first EU Social Summit in 20 years. The Presidents of the EU Institutions, EU Heads of State or Government, social partners and other key stakeholders will gather at the Social Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, to have an open discussion amongst all participants on how to promote fair jobs and growth in the European Union. At the Summit, the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission will jointly proclaim the European Pillar of Social Rights, which was first announced by President Juncker in his 2015 State of the Union Address and presented by the Commission in April 2017. Its proclamationunderlines the joint commitment of EU-leaders to stand by and promote the 20 principles and rights enshrined under the Pillar. Over a working lunch following the Summit, leaders will also discuss the future of education and culture. Just two days ago, the European Commission set out its vision for how we can create a European Education Area by 2025. Ahead of the Social Summit, President Juncker said: “Europe is slowly turning the page on years of economic crisis but it has not yet surmounted the biggest social crisis it has known for generations. The challenges of youth unemployment, inequality and a transforming world of work are ones we all face. In Gothenburg, we have a unique opportunity to seek out common solutions. This should be a landmark moment – with the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, we are showing our joint commitment to protect and uphold the rights of equality, fairness and opportunity that we all stand for and that all citizens are entitled to. And it must also be the first step of many in this direction.” The Social Summit will focus on how to make the most of new opportunities and tackle common challenges for the labour markets and welfare models of today and tomorrow. In addition to President Juncker, Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue, Valdis Dombrovskis, and Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, will also participate in the Summit. Already today, on the eve of the Social Summit, President Juncker, Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Thyssen will attend an extraordinary meeting between EU institutions and EU social partners. Furthermore, this afternoon, Commissioner Thyssen will participate in a Citizens’ Dialogue, together with Commissioner Malmström. The dialogue will be broadcast live. More information about the Social Summit can be found in this press release, as well as on the Summit website.