Leading the just transitionLeaving no European behind Social justice must be at the heart of the green and digital transitions. This means addressing the social and economic impacts of these transitions, and more specifically focusing on the regions, industries and workers that will face the greatest inherent challenges.That is why the von der Leyen Commission created the Just Transition Mechanism, the EU’s key tool for ensuring this happens in a fair way, which will mobilise up to €55 billion by 2027 to provide targeted support. Getting peopleback to work6 millionjobs created in the EU in 2021Record low unemployment 6% in June 2022 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Post-pandemic recovery Mitigating unemployment risks in an emergencyDespite the added complexities of the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine, the EU has been able to preserve employment. This is happening through a combination of short-term flexibility and long-term vision embodied by the Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency programme (SURE). SURE helped employers keep employees at work by paying their salaries during the lockdowns, and in 2021, continued to protect jobs while laying the groundwork for a robust economic recovery. €92 billionof financial assistancewas disbursed to 19 Member States for the direct benefit of recipientsAround 31 million peopleand 2.5 million firmsin the EU were supported by SURE in 2020 aloneAlmost 30%of total employment and one quarter of total firmswere supported by SURE in the 19 beneficiary countries Additional tools for an inclusive economic recoveryNextGenerationEU is an €800 billion recovery instrument to help repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. It supports enterprises and business development, strengthens healthcare systems, finances training programmes, employment schemes, and provides school equipment and material assistance for those most in need. One of the largest programmes under the new Next Generation EU instrument is REACT-EU, which promotes recovery across the EU by boosting growth in less-developed regions. State aid was also an important part of the Commission’s economic response to the pandemic. Since the start of the crisis, the Commission approved nearly 1 010 national measures for an estimated total amount of around €3.2 trillion. The State Aid COVID Temporary Framework was phased out on 30 June 2022.Meanwhile, in November 2021, the Commission adopted a communication on a competition policy fit for new challenges. It highlights the important role of competition policy in Europe’s journey towards recovery, the green and digital transitions and a resilient single market. Finally, a strong social market economy that puts people’s well-being first is the most resilient model for a technologically driven post-pandemic world. That is why in March 2021, the European Pillar of Social Rights action plan was adopted. This plan proposed the following three ambitious EU headline targets for 2030. 78%of the populationaged 20 to 64 should be in employment by 203060%of all adultsshould be participating in training every year by 203015 millionA reduction of at least 15 millionin the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion Credit: Konrad SmoleńskiYour storiesA group of citizens in Warsaw launched the "Pulawska 20" shop to collect and deliver free food, cosmetics and clothing to Ukrainian refugees and those internally displaced. Allowing talent to flourish The European skills agenda is a 5-year plan to help individuals and businesses develop more and better skills, fill in job gaps and thrive in the greener, more digital economy. Launched in November 2020, the pact brings together companies, workers, local authorities, social partners, training providers and employment services to identify what skills will be needed in different sectors and to make commitments to reskill workers. So far, more than 600 organisations have signed up to the pact and pledged to help upskill 1.5 million people. The Council adopted recommendations on individual learning accounts and micro-credentials in June 2022. To ensure that Europe continues to be world class in education, the Commission has launched a European strategy for universities that will greatly improve the competitiveness of our higher education systems through larger and deeper transnational cooperation. Improving working conditions In June 2022, the Parliament and the Council reached a historic agreement on the directive on adequate minimum wages, proposed by the Commission in October 2020. This law has been a priority for the von der Leyen Commission from the start, and will help improve the adequacy of minimum wages and increase the access of workers to minimum wage protection across the EU.To protect workers against new challenges linked to the digitalisation of the world of work, the Commission proposed a directive on improving the working conditions in platform work in December 2021. The proposal aims to ensure that people working through digital labour platforms are granted the legal employment status that corresponds to their actual work arrangements and can enjoy the labour rights and social benefits they are entitled to. Credit: Marian CurcutaYour storiesWhen Russia attacked Ukraine, the Romanian business community came together to launch jobs4ukr.com, a platform to help Ukrainian refugees find employment across the EU. Disclaimer: The data on this page was last updated on 31 August 2022 Progress in other areas Overcoming the pandemicSolidarity with UkraineLeading the green transitionREPowerEUAdvancing Europe's digital decadeDefending EU valuesBuilding a union of equalityEurope's demography youth and diversity Achievementsof the von der Leyen CommissionFind out more Related links An economy that works for peopleAction plan for the social economySocial Climate FundState aid casesEffective active support to employment (EASE)European strategy for universities
Social justice must be at the heart of the green and digital transitions. This means addressing the social and economic impacts of these transitions, and more specifically focusing on the regions, industries and workers that will face the greatest inherent challenges.That is why the von der Leyen Commission created the Just Transition Mechanism, the EU’s key tool for ensuring this happens in a fair way, which will mobilise up to €55 billion by 2027 to provide targeted support.
Mitigating unemployment risks in an emergencyDespite the added complexities of the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine, the EU has been able to preserve employment. This is happening through a combination of short-term flexibility and long-term vision embodied by the Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency programme (SURE). SURE helped employers keep employees at work by paying their salaries during the lockdowns, and in 2021, continued to protect jobs while laying the groundwork for a robust economic recovery.
State aid was also an important part of the Commission’s economic response to the pandemic. Since the start of the crisis, the Commission approved nearly 1 010 national measures for an estimated total amount of around €3.2 trillion. The State Aid COVID Temporary Framework was phased out on 30 June 2022.Meanwhile, in November 2021, the Commission adopted a communication on a competition policy fit for new challenges. It highlights the important role of competition policy in Europe’s journey towards recovery, the green and digital transitions and a resilient single market.
Credit: Konrad SmoleńskiYour storiesA group of citizens in Warsaw launched the "Pulawska 20" shop to collect and deliver free food, cosmetics and clothing to Ukrainian refugees and those internally displaced.
The European skills agenda is a 5-year plan to help individuals and businesses develop more and better skills, fill in job gaps and thrive in the greener, more digital economy. Launched in November 2020, the pact brings together companies, workers, local authorities, social partners, training providers and employment services to identify what skills will be needed in different sectors and to make commitments to reskill workers. So far, more than 600 organisations have signed up to the pact and pledged to help upskill 1.5 million people.
In June 2022, the Parliament and the Council reached a historic agreement on the directive on adequate minimum wages, proposed by the Commission in October 2020. This law has been a priority for the von der Leyen Commission from the start, and will help improve the adequacy of minimum wages and increase the access of workers to minimum wage protection across the EU.To protect workers against new challenges linked to the digitalisation of the world of work, the Commission proposed a directive on improving the working conditions in platform work in December 2021.
Credit: Marian CurcutaYour storiesWhen Russia attacked Ukraine, the Romanian business community came together to launch jobs4ukr.com, a platform to help Ukrainian refugees find employment across the EU.
