Ministers are set to adopt four key Council Recommendations with concrete actions to boost a fair green and digital transition across the EU.

Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, and Helena Dalli, Commissioner for Equality, will take part as well in the meeting of employment and social affairs ministers (EPSCO). 

Adotping 4 key Council Recommendations 

1/ First, the Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality provides comprehensive and concrete policy guidance for Member States to address the employment and social impact of the green and digital transition.

2+3/ As the success of the transition also depends on enabling workers to gain the skills needed for the green and digital economy, two Recommendations on individual learning accounts and on micro-credentials will help people find learning offers and employment opportunities.

4/ The fourth Recommendation on learning for the green transition and sustainable development highlights the key role of education and training in equipping learners—from early years through to higher education and adult learning—with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed for the green transition.

National contributions to achieving the EU 2030 targets on employment

Ministers will also exchange views on their government’s national contributions to achieving the three EU 2030 headline targets on employment, skills, and social protection. These were defined in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and welcomed by heads of state or government last year at the Porto Summit.

To date, all Member States have submitted national targets to help fulfil the EU’s commitment. Other items on the agenda include the recent political agreements on the Directive on adequate minimum wages and the Directive on gender balance on company boards, as well as a state of play of the proposed rules on improving working conditions in platform work, the coordination of social security systems, pay transparency and the proposed rules on implementing the principle of equal treatment.

European Semester spring package 2022 

Finally, EPSCO Ministers will also hold policy debates on the European Semester spring package 2022 and on the employment of persons with disabilities. Most of the Council meeting will be open to the public and can be followed via livestream.

Press conference

The press conference with Commissioners Schmit and Dalli at 18.15 CEST can be followed live on EbS.