PES - Party of European Socialists

07/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/23/2026 02:32

Commission Communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights: PES welcomes action and calls for building on it

The PES welcomes the European Commission's renewed commitment to Social Europe, as set out by its Communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR)., The Communication reviews progress in strengthening social rights across the EU and puts forward priorities for further action, focusing on the crucial issues of affordability and poverty, inequalities and artificial intelligence (AI) at work. These include important initiatives such as the upcoming Quality Jobs Act, potential EU action on activation of persons facing significant barriers to employment, and a European Care Deal.

Representing the beacon of a fair Europe that Member States have enshrined in the EU Treaties, the EPSR is central to quality jobs and social justice. The initiative spearheaded by European Commission Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, reflects this commitment on key topics and enhances the importance of social rights across Europe.

In times of rising costs of living and inequality, the PES reiterates that social rights are more crucial than ever in:

Enhancing fair wages and pensions, and ensuring workers' and trade union rights in the green and digital transition;
Providing access to affordable homes and daily essentials;
Advancing gender equality and making inclusive societies a reality;
Allowing all children to go to quality schools and eat healthy food; and
Enabling people to go to the doctor without worrying about costs.
These are the answers that Europe needs, against neoliberal narratives of deregulation. Cutting down on people's rights will only reduce trust and make Europe weaker.

The Pillar has always shown its worth when implemented with ambition and as an EU priority. The Minimum Wage Directive, the Pay Transparency Directive, the Platform Work Directive and the Child Guarantee are cases in point, increasing the quality of life of millions of people and workers in every corner of the EU and as indicated in the Communication on the EPSR. This Communication is another critical step on the road to a fair Europe. At the same time, ambitions must be kept high to deliver on the social targets currently remaining unmet and in the face of the outlined challenges concerning affordability, inequality and algorithmic management. It is a reminder to the Commission's head that only effective legislation and adequate funding empower people and workers.

Stefan Löfven, PES President, said:

"Driven by our political family, we first proclaimed the European Pillar of Social Rights in Gothenburg in 2017. We did this to put the social back on the agenda when too many people across Europe were facing economic hardship.

People and workers need the same now, and the given Commission Communication led by Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu identifies the right priorities for a truly social Europe. This now needs to be complemented by an ambitious Quality Jobs Act that empowers people, trade unions and collective bargaining; by a Europe that champions women's rights; a Housing Act enabling people to pay their rent; and a Europe that supports young people."

The EPSR has been driven forward by progressive leadership, notably by Stefan Löfven, who as Prime Minister of Sweden played a key role in its proclamation at the 2017 Gothenburg Summit, and by António Costa, who as Prime Minister of Portugal hosted the Porto Social Summit in 2021, under the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU, and led the adoption of the Porto Declaration and the EU's 2030 social targets.
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