The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is an EU advisory body. Its members come from all 27 Member States and are appointed for five-year terms. Group I represents employers, Group II workers and Group III a broad range of civil society organisations. With its priorities for 2025–2030, Group II sets out a broad work programme for the current EU institutional cycle, covering a wide range of policy areas and putting forward concrete proposals. One of its central aims is to align economic and social policymaking more closely. It also seeks greater recognition of social cohesion as a key factor in democratic stability. Following the new composition of the Committee in October 2025 and the subsequent drafting and internal coordination process, the priorities paper was published in September 2025.

Social security, regulation and competitiveness are interdependent

In the social policy field, the Workers’ Group sets out a clear counter-position to a competitiveness agenda centred primarily on deregulation and fiscal restraint. Its starting point is a balanced vision of the social market economy, based on a mutually reinforcing relationship between economic efficiency, social justice and environmental sustainability. Good regulation should be seen not as an obstacle, but as a prerequisite for long-term stability, trust, investment and productivity gains. The Group is particularly critical of the Omnibus packages where “simplification” risks weakening workers’ rights, social standards or trade union involvement. Instead, it advocates sustainable competitiveness that strengthens innovation and productivity without undermining social rights.

Against this backdrop, the Group calls for social impact assessments across all EU policy areas, a Protocol on Social Progress to be incorporated into the EU Treaties, and a stronger social dimension of the European Semester. The Semester should more systematically monitor collective bargaining coverage, the level of workers’ participation in company decision-making and progress towards upward wage convergence across the EU. The Group also calls for increased public investment in affordable and social housing, a stronger European strategy to tackle homelessness, and measures to curb speculation and the growing financialisation of housing. It also highlights the importance of services of general interest. Healthcare, care for older people and children, education, social services, energy, water, sanitation and public transport are seen as essential infrastructure underpinning economic resilience, social cohesion and democratic trust. The Group therefore calls for greater public investment and a stronger role for public authorities to ensure universal access to high-quality services of general interest.

Priorities for economic and industrial policy

According to the Workers’ Group, the main economic challenges include job insecurity, the cost-of-living crisis, demographic change and geopolitical tensions. Europe should strengthen its strategic autonomy and reduce critical dependencies in areas such as energy, raw materials and supply chains. The Group therefore calls for an economic governance framework that takes greater account of public investment needs. The Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034 should provide sufficient resources for social investment, regional development and economic infrastructure. In tax policy, the Group supports better coordinated tax systems, a stronger shift of the tax burden from labour to capital and more effective taxation of multinational companies. Tax dumping, tax avoidance and tax evasion should be tackled more effectively. It also calls for a European financial transaction tax, progressive wealth taxation and additional EU own resources.

In industrial policy, the Group supports the expansion of strategic capacities in Europe, including in clean technologies, critical raw materials and digital infrastructure. State aid, InvestEU and other forms of public support should be subject to social conditionality, including minimum standards for job quality. In restructuring processes, workers and trade unions should be informed, consulted and involved at an early stage. The Workers’ Group also calls for affordable, stable and sustainable energy for industry, as well as the effective implementation of due diligence requirements to protect human rights and the environment throughout global value chains.

Climate policy needs social backing

This industrial transformation is closely linked to climate policy. The Workers’ Group considers a binding European framework for a just transition essential, extending beyond individual CO₂-intensive sectors. It remains committed to the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 and, in this context, calls for closer coordination between climate, energy and industrial policy. A key priority is reform of the European electricity market to support decarbonisation while ensuring security of supply and affordable energy. The Group also calls for stricter rules against greenwashing and for the further development of the European sustainable finance framework. Regions particularly affected by the climate crisis and structural change should receive targeted support through adaptation and financing measures, as well as dedicated transition plans. The Group also calls for a European Directive for a Just Transition, guaranteed access to reskilling and upskilling, including paid training leave, and stronger involvement of the social partners at European, national and regional level throughout the transition process. The Just Transition Fund and the Social Climate Fund should be expanded and made more accessible.

Digitalisation under democratic control

In the digital transition, the Workers’ Group focuses on the growing use of worker surveillance and algorithmic management, as well as on protecting jobs and working conditions. Its demands include stronger action against bogus self-employment and the effective implementation of the Platform Work Directive. The rules on algorithmic management contained in the Directive should be extended to all workers. The human-in-command approach should ensure that decisions with significant consequences for workers are not made exclusively by automated systems. The Group also calls for a right to disconnect, minimum standards for telework and an end to mandatory “bring your own device” practices. In addition, it calls for measures to close the digital divide, protect access to the internet as a fundamental right, and strengthen data protection and online privacy.

Beyond the issues covered in this article, the Workers’ Group’s comprehensive priorities also address migration, the rule of law and fundamental rights, global policy issues, as well as better policymaking and strategic foresight. The full paper is well worth consulting, not least for a more detailed account of the Group’s specific proposals.

Further information

EESC: Group 2 subpage
EWSA Group 2: Priorities for Social Progress 2025-2030
AK Europa: New action plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights
AK Europa: Industrial Policy in the European Union. Towards a forward looking agenda
AK Europa: Quality Jobs Roadmap
AK Europa: The rise of robots