The document discusses the EU's role in social policies and employment strategies. It aims to increase employment, improve job quality, combat poverty and promote social inclusion through policies that foster cooperation between member states. Key priorities include adapting employment, social and immigration policies to different national situations while promoting flexicurity and a skilled workforce. Statistical data collection and the European social dialogue play important roles in monitoring developments and finding solutions to benefit both businesses and employees.

2. European society is changing, influenced by different factors such as
technological progress, the globalisation of trade and an ageing
population. European employment, social affairs and equal
opportunities policies contribute to improving people’s living
conditions with a view to sustainable growth and greater social
cohesion. The European Union (EU) plays the role of a trigger in social
change. It has introduced a protective legal framework for European
citizens. It fosters the cooperation of Member States, the coordination
and harmonisation of national policies, and the participation of local
authorities, unions, employers’ organisations and other stakeholders
involved.
The priority aims of this policy are to increase employment and
worker mobility, to improve the quality of jobs and, working
conditions, to inform and consult workers, to combat poverty and
social exclusion, to promote equality between men and women, and to
modernise social protection systems

3. Social and employment situation
in europe
Statistical data which can be compared at European level are essential
for the monitoring of social and labour market developments in the
European Union. They are used in particular to assess the impact of
economic and demographic changes on the labour market. In this
respect, the Commission has set up systems for collecting statistical
information used to establish performance indicators. It also supports
the analysis work undertaken by the Member States through the
Community Programme for Employment and Solidarity, and the work
of the European Employment Observatory. All this information is
recorded in annual reports.

4. For the EU to emerge from the economic crisis, preventing rising
unemployment from becoming entrenched is a priority. In addition, the EU is
facing an ageing workforce and increased international competition.
Structural reforms are therefore needed to improve labour market flexibility,
secure the availability of a skilled workforce ?including through economic
migration and put in place modern social policies. The aim must be to have
more people in work, working more productively. Flexicurity should be at the
heart of the European employment strategy and the leading principle in the
development of social policy. Employment, social and immigration policies
must be adapted to the diversity of situations in the Member States.

5. BUSINESSEUROPE is actively engaged in the European social dialogue in
order to find solutions reconciling economic and social needs of labour
market players, and to devise concrete arrangements that benefit both
companies and employees

6. List of commissioners
Name Country Period Commission
1 Lionello Levi Sandri Italy 1967–1970 Rey Commission
Malfatti Commission,
2 Albert Coppé Belgium 1970–1973
Mansholt Commission
3 Patrick Hillery Ireland 1973–1977 Ortoli Commission
4 Henk Vredeling Netherlands 1977–1981 Jenkins Commission
5 Ivor Richard United Kingdom 1981–1985 Thorn Commission
6 Peter Sutherland Ireland 1985–1989 Delors Commission I
7 Vasso Papandreou Greece 1989–1992 Delors Commission II
Delors Commission
III, Santer
8 Pádraig Flynn Ireland 1993–1999
Commission, Marín
Commission
9 Anna Diamantopoulou Greece 1999–2004 Prodi Commission
10 Vladimír Špidla Czech Republic 2004–2010 Barroso Commission I
11 László Andor Hungary 2010 onwards Barroso Commission II

7. Social protection
From a worldwide perspective, the European Union (EU) is clearly a model
of social protection. Unemployment, poor health, invalidity, family
situations and old age are some of the risks which these systems were created
to deal with. The systems also guarantee access to several services that are
vital to the preservation of human dignity. Although the Member States are
responsible for organising and funding social protection systems, the EU has
a special role to play by introducing legislation which coordinates the
national social security systems, particularly with regard to mobility within
the Community. The EU recently committed itself to promoting closer
cooperation between the Member States in modernising their social
protection systems, which face similar challenges throughout the EU.

8. Employment rights and work
organisation
The European Union has minimum requirements in the field of
labour rights and work organisation. These requirements concern
collective redundancies, insolvency and the transfer of
undertakings, the consultation and information of workers,
working hours, equal treatment and pay, and posted workers. They have been
supplemented by framework agreements between the European social partners.
This has led to the introduction throughout the EU of the right to parental leave
and leave for family reasons, and has facilitated part-time work and limited the
use of successive fixed-term contracts. Lastly, the concept of corporate social
responsability encourages businesses to adopt good practices in the social field
on a voluntary basis. The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living
and Working Conditions makes recommendations to the political decision-
makers.

9. Social dialogue and employee
participation
Dialogue with the social partners constitutes one of the pillars of the European
social model. Firmly anchored in the Treaty establishing the European
Community, it embraces discussions, consultations, negotiations and joint actions
involving the representative social partner organisations. The European social
dialogue, which can be bipartite or tripartite, supplements the national social
dialogue arrangements which exist in most Member States. Based on the
principles of solidarity, responsibility and participation, it constitutes the main
channel through which the social partners contribute to the establishing of
European social standards and play a vital role in the governance of the Union.

10. Community employment policies
The European Union’s work contributes to reducing
rates of unemployment and improving the quality of
jobs, in particular through the Lisbon Strategy for
growth and jobs. In the context of the international financial crisis, additional
measures have been taken to protect existing jobs and to create new
opportunities.
Each year, more than EUR 10 billion are invested through the European Social
Fund (ESF) to improve job prospects for the population. Projects, co-financed by
Member States, support companies in adapting to developments in the economic
and social situation. They promote access to lifelong learning and training in
order to develop workers’ skills.