Today and tomorrow, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, will attend the informal meeting of EU employment and social affairs ministers in Madrid.

In addition to the ministers, representatives from European social partners and civil society will participate in the meeting.

On Thursday, participants will exchange on the role of social partners and social dialogue at EU and national level. The Commission has presented at the beginning of this year concrete actions for greater involvement of social partners at EU level, and Member States have adopted a Council Recommendation on strengthening social dialogue in the EU.

Participants will also share national experiences and advancements in care policies, including regarding social dialogue and civil society. The Commission has put forward in 2022 a European Care Strategy to improve the situation for care givers and care receivers, and Member States have adopted two Council Recommendations, respectively on early childhood education and care, and long-term care. On Monday, 11 July, the Commission set up a European sectoral social dialogue committee on social services, following up to a commitment in the Care Strategy to strengthen social dialogue in this sector. The committee will bring together related European employers and trade union organisations.

On Friday, the meeting will be dedicated to social protection, and participants will discuss how to measure and evaluate returns of social investments.

Press conference

Commissioner Schmit will participate in the press conference organised by the Spanish Presidency of the Council, which will be livestreamed around 12:45 CEST on EbS on Friday.