The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) calls on the Union and Member States to work towards developing a coordinated strategy for employment and pursue common social policy objectives.
Until 2017, these goas were mainly pursued though the European Employment Strategy, which had been launched back in 1997. They have since been embedded in the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
To support their implementation in all Member States, in 2021, the Commission put forward an Action Plan with a range of concrete EU initiatives which aim to coordinate national employment, skills and social policies, as well as EU headline targets on employment, skills and poverty reduction to be achieved by 2030.
In 2022, all Member States also set corresponding 2030 national targets.
European Semester
Progress on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the pursuit of the 2030 EU and national targets is monitored within the European Semester, which is the EU framework for the coordination and surveillance of economic, fiscal, employment and social policies within the Union.
The Semester is an annual process whereby Member States align their national policies with the objectives and rules agreed upon at EU level.
Advisory committees and networks
The Employment Committee (EMCO), an advisory body to the Ministers in the Employment and Social Affairs Council (EPSCO), plays a key role in shaping and monitoring the employment aspects of the European Semester and more generally in the coordination of employment and skills policies in the EU.
For the discussion and coordination of policies in the areas of social protection, social inclusion, pensions, healthcare and long-term care, the EPSCO Council is advised by the Social Protection Committee (SPC).
To help monitor the implementation of employment and social policies, EMCO and SPC carry out a series of dedicated multilateral surveillance activities including thematic reviews and country examinations informing the annual country-specific policy advice to Member States.
Moreover, a European Network of Public Employment Services (PES) was established in 2014 to encourage cooperation between Member States on job-seeking policies and actions.
Mutual Learning Programme
To promote mutual learning among Member States, the Commission manages the Mutual Learning Programme (MLP), under which Member States can organise conferences and events to exchange best practices on policy implementation.
Funding
To further support the coordination of policies among Member States, the Commission manages specific EU funding for projects which aim to support employment, develop skills and ensure social protection and inclusion, on top of cross-cutting EU funding such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
In addition, the design and implementation of structural reforms at national level, including those recommended to Member States in the context of the European Semester, can benefit from technical expertise and financial support available at EU level through the Technical Support Instrument.
