FEPS Reacts: European Commission communication on the Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights

By Laszlo Andor, FEPS Secretary-General & François Balate, Policy Analyst on Social

The communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) is a stark reminder that social rights must be the compass for EU action to improve industrial relations and make the welfare states more resilient. 

Blind competitiveness and deregulation will not lead us to better outcomes in labour markets or living conditions.

The EPSR was adopted after the recovery from the Eurozone crisis (2017) to confirm the EU’s commitment to social rights. The first Action Plan was introduced during the COVID-19 crisis (2021) to demonstrate the power of EU solidarity. The new Action Plan was expected to reassure Europeans that, in times of global disruption, we do not give up our goals and preserving the European Social Model is our priority.

We would need an honest stock taking of the current developments. While we are making progress toward the employment target (reaching 78% by 2030 – 76.3% today), we are still far from achieving our objectives for poverty reduction (15 million people, including 5 million children – only 3.5 million today) and lifelong learning among adults (60% participating in training every year – only 39.5% today). Anaemic growth, coupled with growing income inequality, represents a risk to our democracies as well. This is not a time for blurring the objectives and diluting the agenda, but for finding sharper and stronger instruments.

Thanks to the leadership of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, the commitment to social Europe remains and is reinforced. Her work to fight poverty, ensure quality jobs in a transforming world of work, and to create the conditions for fair labour mobility is essential. FEPS welcomes her new priorities. 

Addressing affordability, notably through activation policies, the Quality Jobs Act and the future European Care Deal, will answer the number one priority for people in Europe. Reducing inequalities, especially the gender pay gap, and allowing people to exercise their right to stay (as proposed by the Letta Report) will help reinforce trust in institutions’capacity to deliver social justice and genuine cohesion. Lastly, addressing the question of AI in the future of world work cannot be ignored. It needs a human-centred approach with workers’ rights at the heart.

This new orientation is necessary. However, an even more ambitious approach is needed for the EU to further advance social rights. The EU cannot allow the European Social Fund to shrink and social legislation to evaporate. The Commission must prove to the citizens that it is part of the solution. Otherwise, it will be seen as part of the problem. 

In Porto, on the 18-19 June 2026, FEPS rallied a coalition of policymakers, thought leaders, trade unionists, and civil society activists to call for more action for social Europe at the event “Social Europe is our target“. In the turbulent times we live in, we stood firmly for our welfare systems and presented a vision that combines the social dimension with European sovereignty. Our message was loud and clear:

• Back ambition and strategies with adequate financial means – We need a permanentcommon EU fiscal capacity (for investment, innovation and risk sharing) anddedicated instruments to promote social investment in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
• Make our social model the foundation of European sovereignty – We need to use our public procurement in a strategic manner to reduce our external dependencies, renewing our industrial policy, while preserving our social and environmental standards;
• Strengthen public services for more wellbeing in society – We need public authorities to be able to invest more in public services, providing healthcare, affordable housing and quality education to all, and the EU rules and tools must be supportive of such local efforts.

People’s number one concern is the cost-of-living crisis today. At the same time, they strongly support more EU action in social policy. Let’s hear them and deliver. 

© European Union, 202X, licensed under CC BY 4.0