Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Responsibilities

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) develops and carries out the Commission's policies on employment, social affairs, inclusion, and skills and qualifications.

EU employment and social policies support citizens throughout their lives, when finding a job, moving to another Member State, or learning new skills. 

As the world of work evolves and European society changes, DG EMPL works to protect employment and social rights and ensure a fair green and digital transition, collaborating with national authorities, social partners, civil society and other stakeholders. 

Examples of the areas in which we are active include support for:

• more and better jobs through the European Employment Strategy (which brings national policies closer in this field) and the European Social Fund (ESF+) (with an EU budget of €95.8 billion for the period 2021-2027, managed in partnership with Member States)
• skills and qualifications, including through the Union of Skills and the European Skills Agenda, to equip citizens with the skills they need to help adjust to a fast-changing      economy and to the challenges brought by the green and digital transitions
• free movement of workers and coordination of social security schemes, which means that every European has the right to work and  live in any EU country and that people who move between countries are not disadvantaged in relation to social security including healthcare
• social inclusion by supporting efforts to combat poverty and social exclusion, reform social protection systems, assess new demographic and social developments
• the European Commission's priorities are set out in the Annual Management Plan of the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion website

As part of the Commission's commitment to transparency, Commission staff holding management functions publish information on and minutes of all meetings they hold with interest representatives.