On March 4^th, the European Commission put out its ambition for a strong and social Europe that focuses on jobs and skills for the future. The Action Plan will pave the way for a fair, inclusive and resilient socio-economic recovery of Europe.

The Action Plan

The European Pillar of Social Rights was presented by the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission in 2017. The Pillar consists of twenty principles of which the aim was to guide countries towards a strong Social Europe. The pillar consists of principles and rights which are essential for fair and well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems. Three principals were created to structure the Pillar:

1. Equal opportunities and access to the labour market
2. Fair working conditions
3. Social protection and inclusion

With the Action Plan, the European Commission breathes new life into the Social Pillar, turning its principles into actions. The creation of new jobs and making sure that people have the right skills for certain jobs are the priorities of the action plan.

EU goals

The new 2030 headline is consistent with the UNSDG and set a general ambition for a strong Social Europe. Three major goals are to be achieved by 2030 with the Action Plan:

• At least 78% of people between the ages of 20-64 should be employed
• At least 60% of adults should receive training every year
• The number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion should be reduced by at least 15 million

Funding behind the Action Plan

The Commission has mobilised all means at its disposal to help support member states to keep people in their jobs. The SURE scheme will support Member States by providing financial assistance of up to €100 billion in EU loans. The Commission’s package on youth employment support, skills and vocational education is specifically designed to help the next generation of Europeans to get on the jobs ladder.

The EU’s long-term budget coupled with the temporary NextGenerationEU financial instrument (designed to boost Europe’s recovery) will be the largest stimulus package ever financed through EU budget. A total of €1.8 trillion will be made available both for showing solidarity and for building the next generation EU.

B2EU Consulting can help private or public actors to gain access to means of financial or legislative support. Our boutique consulting firm is specialized in European funds and can assist industries on positioning itself favorably for financial support and a smooth transaction to future of European job opportunities.

Image © European Parliament, 2019