Commission analyses social convergence in nine EU countries

This analysis focuses on Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania and Finland. These countries were flagged in the 2026 Joint Employment Report as facing potential risks to upward social convergence.

What does the analysis cover?

The analysis takes a closer look at the challenges these nine countries are facing. It explores recent changes, their causes, and how they affect different groups and areas. It also takes more data and long-term trends into account.

Additionally, it reviews what policies each country has put in place - or plans to - and whether these are working or if more action is needed.

Key findings

The report highlights several challenges:

• Social inclusion: a major challenge in all countries is reducing poverty and social exclusion. A particular focus is to enhance the effectiveness of social transfers in reducing poverty. Despite existing support, many people remain at risk.
• Education and skills: four countries struggle with low levels of adult learning and basic digital skills and high rates of early school leaving. Boosting investment in human capital and improving the alignment of peoples' skill sets with labour market needs remains a key priority.
• Labour markets: five countries face elevated shares of young people not in employment, education and training. Four countries face challenges linked to low employment and high unemployment rates. Further efforts are needed to better integrate underrepresented groups.

Six countries - Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania - are found to face overall challenges to upward social convergence.

Role of social partners

The Commission held discussions with trade unions and employers' organisations ahead of the release of the analysis to gather their views and input.

Next steps in the process

The findings will be discussed with EU countries in the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee. They will inform the 2026 European Semester Spring Package, providing Member States with tailored recommendations to address socio-economic challenges. 

Background: What is the Social Convergence Framework?

The Social Convergence Framework identifies risks and challenges to upward social convergence.

It focusses on three policy areas:

• Labour markets
• Education and skills
• Social policies

The framework entails a two-stage country analysis: 

1. First stage: all 27 Member States are reviewed to identify potential risks to upward social convergence. This stage relies on Social Scoreboard indicators and feeds into the annual Joint Employment Report.  
2. Second stage: countries flagged in the first stage undergo a more detailed analysis. This includes a wider range of quantitative and qualitative evidence, as well as an assessment of existing and planned policy to address the identified challenges.