On 7 and 8 July 2025, Social Platform was invited to participate in the informal meeting of Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs (EPSCO), held in Aalborg, Denmark. The meeting was hosted by Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, Danish Minister for Employment, under the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU. It brought together Ministers from EU Member States, members of the European Commission, Li Andersson, Chair of the European Parliament’s EMPL Committee, the Chairs of EMCO and SPC, senior representatives of the ILO, as well as the European Social Partners and Social Platform. Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta was invited as the keynote speaker.
The meeting addressed key topics such as fair and free mobility within the EU and competitiveness in the field of employment. These issues have been widely debated in the context of the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). They are particularly relevant for the social agenda, as they reflect the ongoing tension between economic priorities and the need to safeguard social rights and protections across Europe.
On the margins of the meeting, Catherine Naughton, Social Platform’s Vice-president and Réka Tunyogi, acting Secretary General engaged in bilateral exchanges with key decision-makers, including Li Andersson (Chair of the EMPL Committee of the European Parliament), Yolanda Díaz (Spanish Minister of Labour and Social Economy and Second Deputy Prime Minister), David Clarinval (Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Economy), and Inga Ruginienė (Minister of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania).
These meetings provided a meaningful opportunity to reinforce the link between European policymaking and the social rights that Social Platform works to promote and protect. The informal setting allowed for open and constructive dialogue, enabling participants to explore shared priorities around fair working conditions, inclusive labour markets, and the social implications of Europe’s competitiveness strategy. For Social Platform, these conversations were both insightful and energising, helping to inform our future advocacy with renewed clarity and direction.
This informal EPSCO gathering once again underscored the crucial role of social rights in shaping the future of the European Union. It reaffirmed that placing people and their well-being at the centre of policymaking is not only necessary but decisive for the legitimacy and sustainability of the European project. As the EU continues to navigate key transitions — economic, digital, green, and demographic — the defence and advancement of social rights must remain a cornerstone of a fairer, more resilient, and inclusive Europe for all.
