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REPORT (2020/2084(INI))

On a strong social Europe for Just Transitions

A-9-2020-0233

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs · Rapporteur: Dennis Radtke, Agnes Jongerius

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 25 Sept 2026

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Parliament's resolution calls for a strong social Europe to accompany the green, digital and demographic transitions. It proposes a Porto Agenda with mandatory social targets for 2030, backed by EU recovery funding and new rules on wages, work quality, equality, welfare systems and fair mobility. It asks for a governance framework integrating the European Pillar of Social Rights and a social progress protocol into the Treaties, and a Sustainable Development and Social Progress Pact with mandatory targets. It calls for social investment matching environmental and digital spending in recovery plans, and for Social Progress Plans alongside national recovery plans. It sets targets on collective bargaining coverage, youth unemployment, job quality, work-related deaths, labour inspectors, child poverty, housing, gender pay and corporate governance. It asks for new EU rules on minimum wages, teleworking, platform work, due diligence, pay transparency, temporary agency work and a digital social security number.

Committee position. The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs proposes a resolution calling for a strong social Europe for just transitions, with a Porto Agenda of mandatory 2030 targets, a governance framework anchored in the Treaties, and EU funding and legislation on wages, work quality, equality, welfare and mobility.

Key points

  1. Calls for a Porto Agenda in May 2021 with mandatory social targets and indicators, covering decent work, social justice, welfare systems and fair mobility.
  2. Wants the European Pillar of Social Rights and a social progress protocol integrated into the Treaties, and a Sustainable Development and Social Progress Pact with mandatory social and sustainable targets.
  3. Asks Member States to use flexibility in EU public finance rules for social spending, and wants recovery funding to include upward social convergence and Social Progress Plans.
  4. Welcomes SURE and asks the Commission to evaluate it and consider a permanent short-time work instrument, with aid only to companies respecting workers' rights and paying taxes.
  5. Welcomes an EU Unemployment Benefit Reinsurance Scheme covering all workers and open to non-euro-area countries.
  6. Calls for more money for the Just Transition Fund and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, and for social partners to be involved in Territorial Just Transition Plans.
  7. Sets funding targets: at least 5% of ESF+ for the Child Guarantee, EUR 3 billion in its first year and EUR 20 billion over 2021-2027, 3% for food and material deprivation, and 15% for youth employment.
  8. Calls for decent wages, a living wage index, minimum wages above a decency threshold, and collective bargaining coverage of 90% by 2030.
  9. Sets 2030 targets: halve long-term and youth unemployment, eliminate involuntary temporary and part-time work, 80% of new jobs middle- or high-paying, and end work-related deaths.
  10. Asks for new EU rules on teleworking, platform work, workers' information and consultation, corporate due diligence, pay transparency, and a ban on unpaid internships.
  11. Calls for a European Child Guarantee, a minimum income framework, universal social security, affordable housing, an end to homelessness by 2030, and a post-2020 Disability Strategy.
  12. Wants the Temporary Work Agency Directive revised, abusive subcontracting ended with joint liability, the European Labour Authority strengthened, and a digital EU social security number.

Who is affected

  • Workers in the EU, especially young people, women, older people, persons with disabilities, mobile and seasonal workers, and the self-employed.
  • Member States, which must set minimum wages, enforce labour law, ratify the revised European Social Charter and adopt national equality strategies.
  • Employers and companies, which would face due diligence duties, pay transparency, procurement conditions and bans on abusive subcontracting.
  • Social partners and trade unions, to be involved in policymaking, collective bargaining and just transition plans.
  • Regions dependent on carbon-intensive industries, which would receive Just Transition Fund support.

Figures and deadlines

  • Collective bargaining coverage of 90% by 2030.
  • At least 5% of ESF+ resources for the European Child Guarantee.
  • EUR 3 billion for the first year of the Child Guarantee and at least EUR 20 billion over 2021-2027.
  • At least 3% of ESF+ resources to tackle food and material deprivation.
  • At least 15% of ESF+ resources for quality youth employment.
  • Reduce long-term and youth unemployment by at least 50% by 2030.
  • One labour inspector per 10 000 employed persons by 2030.
  • At least 40% representation of women in senior management positions.

Legal basis: Articles 3 and 5 of the Treaty on European Union, and Articles 9, 151, 152, 153, 156, 157, 162 and 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.