Reinforcing Social Europe – Commission launches consultation roadshow

Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, will this week kick off a series of virtual consultations on the future of Social Europe with stakeholders in Member States. Starting tomorrow in Croatia, the current holder of the Council Presidency, the Commissioner and the Commission services will participate in a series of webinars in Member States to gather feedback ahead of the Commission’s Action Plan on the further implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The Action Plan itself will be presented in early 2021. The Pillar is Europe’s main compass to make our societies more resilient. Given the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our economic and social fabric, its principles are more relevant than ever in making sure that people are at the centre of the recovery in the short, medium and long term. Ahead of the first instalment in Zagreb, Commissioner Schmit said: “The Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights will be a crucial component of our long-term recovery strategy. We can only emerge from this crisis by putting employment and social matters at the heart of our plan. The valued input of stakeholders will be instrumental in deciding on the next steps for jobs and social rights in Europe.” Following the Communication ‘A Strong Social Europe for Just Transitions‘ in January 2020, the Commission launched a broad discussion on the Social Pillar. The next stops on Commissioner Schmit‘s virtual roadshow tour are Athens on 26 June and Budapest on 7 July. Further events will be added on a rolling basis, and stakeholders are also invited to submit their written contributions, ideas and commitments to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights before 30 November 2020 through the website Have your say on reinforcing Social Europe.