Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

The European Commission participated in the Porto Social Forum 2023, in the presence of the Portuguese Prime Minister, members of the European Parliament, the President of the European Economic and Social Committee, the President of the Regions Committee, and a number of representatives of social partners and civil society. “Two years ago, in Porto, the member of the Commission in charge of jobs and social rights file, Nicholas Schmitt, Thanks to the Portuguese government, we are putting social rights more firmly on the European map Heads of State, EU institutions, social partners and civil society spoke with one voice on the importance of creating an inclusive, fair and full of opportunities for all We signed the Porto Social Commitment which is the blueprint for the implementation of the Social Rights Pillar Action Plan We are committed to our citizens to improve their living and working conditions.We have ratified the EU Social Goals 2030 for levels of employment, lifelong learning and poverty reduction.As we often say, Porto has been a 'game-changer.'A statement published by the Commission reads. The European commissioner included Schmidt's speech over the weekend. The statement also included the European Commissioner's question, "But what do we mean when we talk about 'a comprehensive Europe'?" He replies, "We mean a society where people have equal opportunities, regardless of their background.
We mean good jobs that offer decent pay and work-life balance. We mean gender equality, which means same rights, same opportunities, same pay for women. It's time to implement the provision already contained in the Treaty of Rome from 1957. We mean an economy that places high value on investment in people.
We mean workplaces that are accessible, safe, and that protect the physical and mental health of the workers in them. We mean reaching those who are often excluded, such as people experiencing homelessness, or young people who are out of work, education or training. We also mean social protection and labor rights for platform workers and those working in new business models.
We know that reviving the European pillar of social rights is a huge collective effort. So, what have the EU institutions, member states, social partners and civil society organizations done in the last two years to make Porto's social commitment?
Member states have submitted national social targets to be achieved by 2030 in the areas of employment, training and poverty reduction, to contribute to the EU's 2030 targets.
We have agreed new rules to ensure workers receive the appropriate EU minimum wage, including more collective bargaining.
We adopted a proposal on improving working conditions for people who work through digital work platforms, so that they get the social protection and labor rights they deserve. The time has now come for the Council to agree on a general approach.
We've put in place new rules on pay transparency, which is an important step toward closing the gender pay gap
We have presented the Social Economy Action Plan, with 63 actions to enable social economy entities to thrive and grow.
We have provided guidance on how to strengthen social dialogue in Europe, in collaboration with social partners.
We've provided communication on an asbestos-free future, including updated guidance on asbestos exposure limits at work.
Member States agreed on recommendations on how to set up Individual Learning Accounts and Micro-credentials, as a way to help people achieve their training goals in accordance with Principle 1 of the Social Pillar.
Nearly 1,500 organizations have joined the Skills Charter, pledging to help retrain more than 10 million people over the coming years.
Member states have begun to revive the European Child Guarantee, supporting families with needy children so they have the same opportunities as everyone else.
We have put in place ways to ensure that long-term care in Europe is affordable, accessible and offers good career opportunities. The COVID crisis has shown how important care workers and nurses are. It's time to ensure better working conditions for them.
We've had numerous exchanges across the platform on combating homelessness, sharing best practices and potential solutions.
And we agreed on ways to make sure that social safety nets - the minimum income - are strong enough, and help people get back into the job market.
I'll stop the list here, but I finally want to insist on initiatives to make transitions fair and just. The establishment of the Social Climate Fund is an important tool for achieving this goal.
We should be proud of what we started. We have kept our word, implementing the pillar of social rights piece by piece, principle by principle.
But needless to say, we cannot rest on our laurels or be complacent. There is still much to be done to revive the principles of the social pillar, and we depend on each individual to do their part.
And all the while, the economy and the job market continue to shift, and the world around us is changing every day.
If the transformations in our economies and societies are not just and inclusive, if we don't do it and if everyone doesn't participate, we risk deepening inequalities and giving way to populism.
I am convinced that the European Union's path to becoming more competitive and flexible will only be truly successful if we recognize that its economic, industrial, labor and social components are mutually reinforcing.
The speed and success of our economy's transformations will depend on our ability to adapt the workforce's skill set and provide good working conditions.
I am particularly pleased that there are social partners and civil society represented again here in Porto.
Skills shortage has become a major challenge in many Member States. Three-quarters of firms in the European Union report difficulties finding workers with the right skills of required skills, with small and medium enterprises being particularly affected.
We must ensure that European companies have access to the talent they need to thrive and grow. This is as much an economic question as it is a social question.
The European Year of Skills is therefore the perfect occasion to accelerate a much-needed skills revolution.
With over 8 million NEETs in Europe - young people not in employment, education or training - this is particularly urgent.
We need their talent, creativity and productivity in the labor market. We adapt training systems to their needs, and focus on vocational education and training.
I have visited some fantastic training centers over the past three years across the EU, and seen the amazing work being done to bring education and skills to people who are often forgotten, because they left school early, or because they belong to an excluded group. such as the Schools de la Deuxième Chance in France, Youthreach in Ireland, the Upskilling Initiative in Lisbon, and the Tomillo Foundation in Madrid.
We must take inspiration from these projects and expand them across Europe.
Education does not stop at the school gates! We will use the Year of Skills to promote a mindset in which continuous training is the norm - for everyone.
We have set a target of 60% of adults in the EU having regular training by 2030. Ambitious yes, but much needed.
It's time to get serious about skills.
More than 75% of companies report difficulties finding workers with the skills they need.
Four out of 10 adults lack basic digital skills despite them being a prerequisite for most jobs.
And only a third of adults exercise regularly.
The labor shortage doubled between 2015 and 2021 in key sectors and jobs for the green transition. So we need to invest significantly in the skills needed in these sectors.
For example, about 800,000 workers will have to be trained or requalified in the battery sector by 2025 to meet the demand for this growing industry.
By 2030, the solar energy sector alone could account for 1 million jobs in the European Union.
But as President von der Leyen said when introducing his industrial Green Deal plan earlier this year - "The best technology is only as good as the skilled workers who can install it and operate it".
To help member states implement much-needed skills programmes, €65 billion of EU funding has been allocated from the Additional European Social Fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
By the way, just 10 minutes from where we gathered today in Porto, you find a skills program supported by ESF: a digital skills development center aimed in particular at the unemployed.
There is no one right way to conduct training. You can be 21 or 61 years old. It can be a two-week course or a two-year programme. The important thing is to be motivated: find out what offers are available and make the jump.
But Europe's labor shortage will not be fixed by smart skills policies alone.
Too many workers in the European Union still do not have decent working conditions. They suffer from low wages, job insecurity and few opportunities for advancement.
Ensuring decent working conditions means investing in safe workplaces, reducing precarious employment contracts, enforcing workers' rights, and ensuring equal opportunities.
We must also improve work-life balance.
All of these goals help us maintain a social market economy that is a beacon of hope for many.
The European Pillar of Social Rights sets out the principles we have deemed essential for fair and effective labor markets and social protection systems.
It helps confirm the EU's role as a responsible global leader.
The European Union promotes decent work and social inclusion worldwide, through cooperation with partner countries, particularly within the International Labor Organization, on the principle that without social justice there can be no lasting peace
The Commission has worked closely with Western Balkan countries to develop their own Youth Guarantee, which is modeled after the European Union Youth Guarantee, to reach NEETs in the region.
And, of course, recently, the European Union has opened up its borders and its labor market to people who have been forced to leave their home country