European Commission launches Employment and Social Developments in Europe Report 2015/2016
On 21/02/2016, EAPN attended the European Commission’s presentation of its annual Employment and Social Developments (ESDE) Report. The report takes stock of the latest employment and social trends in Europe, and reflects on upcoming challenges and possible policy responses. While it report highlights some so-called improvement (slight decrease in unemployment and no further increases in poverty), it also points out the significant disparities between different Member States. The report, as well as the launch event, are rather employment-oriented, with only marginal attention paid to poverty and social exclusion or other social issues beyond the labour market.
The main topics refer to job creation (but from a rather narrow perspective, focussing on self-employment and entrepreneurship, rather than investment in quality and sustainable jobs), skills and qualifications, social dialogue (with no mention of civil dialogue), intra-EU mobility, fighting particularly long-term unemployment, and social protection – rather, its role in supporting labour market outcomes.
For more information about this publication:
- Read the press release accompanying the launch
- Download the full report
- Consult this quick infographic of the main findings
- Read the Opening Remarks of the launch event, by Marianne Thyssen, European Commissionner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility
- Contact Amana Ferro, Senior Policy Officer in the EAPn Secretariat.