Nicolas Schmit, EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, will meet with several young people from across Europe, to hear their views and discuss “Social protection, minimum income, and beyond”.

Social protection systems provide protection and support against the risks and needs associated with unemployment, sickness, parenthood and social exclusion.

Access to social protection, promoting social inclusion, and combating poverty are core values of our European way of life. While levels of poverty have been decreasing in the past decade, inequalities have not followed the same trend. The relative income situation of the most vulnerable has not improved.

The pandemic exacerbates existing inequalities, indicating possible gaps in the adequacy and coverage of social protection. While in most Member States the rules governing access to social protection are not age-specific, certain gaps and obstacles to access are more significant for young people.

In the second half of 2022, the Commission will propose a Council Recommendation on adequate minimum income schemes in the EU, to offer guidance on how to improve minimum income schemes, while giving countries the flexibility to design and implement specific measures, in line with national practices.

In line with the goals of the European Year of Youth, it is of the utmost importance that the needs and ideas of young people take center stage.  

Streaming

Interested participants can follow the event from 14.30 to 15.30 via this streaming link.