Many are proclaiming 2024 as the pivotal election year, as it provides a voting opportunity to almost half the global population. One significant highlight will be the European Parliament elections in June, which is regarded as the world’s second-largest democratic process. The factors propelling Europe’s populace to participate in the voting process could be manifold.
There are differing opinions regarding the motives to encourage voting. Some advocate the European Union’s accomplishments despite numerous adversities, whereas others opine that focusing on the EU’s accomplishments over the past five years is not the right strategy.
It’s proposed that what will truly inspire the electorate is a faith in the combined power of Europe to produce extraordinary outcomes, determined by a will to address the real issues it confronts. EU level directives are considered to possess more potential than national initiatives in resolving shared crises, embodying shared values, and thereby fortifying the union.
The text then outlines a list of five successful social-policy initiatives implemented by the EU in the past five years and identifies five primary issues that only a robust Europe, backed by an engaged voting population, can resolve.
One noteworthy accomplishment is the SURE tool (Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency) that successfully maintained high employment rates amidst the pandemic. Through resources procured from financial markets and directed to member nations, approximately 31.5 million employees and self-employed individuals and 2.5 million businesses were financially aided during the Covid-19 lockdowns. This consistent employment served as a stabilising force for the economy, ensuring a swift recovery within less than two years.
This starkly contrasts the economic post-2007-08 financial crisis, which was characterised by years of austerity measures and a sluggish, unstable recovery. With a declining EU gross domestic product witnessed in three of the consecutive five years between 2009 and 2013, highlighted by a 4.3 per cent drop in 2009 alone, the economy was shaky. However, even a 5.6 per cent drop in GDP in 2020 was countered with a swift recovery within a year, with significant improvements seen in 2021 and 2022. What this suggests is simply that job preservation is critical – it expedites revival, diminishes potential poverty, and wards off serious economic and social consequences.
Secondly, the 2022 directive regarding minimum wages now offers a protective measure to workers by setting a base pay. It was scarcely conceivable a few years ago to discuss minimum pay and wage establishment at the EU scale. The directive offers ample opportunity for adjustments according to the national context during execution, bringing benefits to the entire union: it augments transparency, levels the competitive terrain in a multinational labour market, encourages a more significant role for social partners and reduces the number of unstable jobs that hinder EU competitiveness.
Thirdly, the new directive on platform work aims to safeguard workers in an environment that is continually transforming post-pandemic, especially with evolving digital tools and emerging employment forms, including platforms. Although innovation and agility in labour markets should be celebrated, there are potential risks such as bypassing labour rules, putting existing businesses at a disadvantage, denying a substantial number of workers sufficient social protection and decent working conditions, and posing a challenge to social systems and societal integrity. These concerns motivated the EU legislature to craft a directive that finds the right mix between digital advancement and the preservation of fundamental rules, principles and rights in labour markets.
Fourthly, the 2023 directive on pay transparency addresses the reality that women in the EU still earn, on average, 13 per cent less than their male counterparts. There are, of course, countries where this gap is substantially smaller, including many central and eastern European member states, where gender pay equity has been a reality for decades. However, there are also countries where this glaring disparity is even more pronounced. Following years of deliberation and talks, the directive now offers significantly more robust tools to safeguard the rights of all workers.
Fifthly, a new, more robust mechanism to enhance the involvement of social partners at both national and EU levels is being implemented. Social dialogue guarantees decision-making accountability: all pivotal economic decisions are sustainable, assuming the participation of social partners. Amid sweeping changes in the world of work due to factors such as digitalisation, demographic trends, geopolitical developments and the green transition, employers and workers need to be part of the decision-making process at multiple levels, including corporate, sectoral, national and EU-wide.
However, the participation of social partners is only possible as far as the law permits. In recent years, there have been considerable efforts made by the European Commission and the EU Council to foster social dialogue, boost the capabilities of social partners and involve them crucially in discussions like the National Recovery and Resilience Plans and reaching the collective bargaining cover required to support minimum wages.
The achievements of the European Union (EU) in the past five years have been far from limited, with several milestone accomplishments to its name. While social policies primarily fall under the jurisdiction of each member state, it is often the case that the citizens of Europe look to Brussels for answers. The EU holds a higher capability to mobilise resources quickly and implement measures, sidestepping a harmful ‘race to the bottom’ due to relaxed labour-market regulation. This approach favours businesses, employees, and the wider society and economy of Europe.
That’s not to say the EU isn’t met with challenges, ones that demand more action from the union. But these expectations frequently exceed the available budget or decision-making capability. The EU would need more than the present budget—almost 40 times the combined budgets of all member states—to deliver more. However, these hurdles give voters five more reasons to articulate their stand at the EU level.
Foremost, the future of employment is a hot topic. Despite the EU being an appealing destination for work and residency—aiding in the heated contest for global talent—there’s much room for improvement. The essence of a job doesn’t boil down to the pay, but the equilibrium between professional demands and available resources. This balance determines the appeal of a job and improving it could tackle labour shortfall, encourage movement, raise output, and heighten EU’s competitiveness in the labour market while enhancing life quality in a broader sense.
Naturally, this new work era must deal with the issues arising from the convergence of humans and machines, such as the aspect of algorithms and artificial intelligence. The swift progress of digital technology calls for not only widespread and swift upskilling and reskilling but also the establishment of precise rules in terms of morals, data security, and individual and collective rights. A humane regulatory system is necessary to leverage the benefits of these advancements.
Affordable and suitable housing is a significant political concern across all member states, whilst issues of care, both formal and informal, permeate nearly every household. Currently, there are limited measures that can be undertaken at a European Union (EU) level regarding housing, other than exchanging knowledge and best practices. However, as the adverse effects on population demographics, employment flexibility, and work-life balance become clear, it is likely an EU-wide method will be developed. Regarding care, there are around six million registered and 60 million unregistered home carers in Europe presently. Europe-wide interest in their circumstances could also influence population demographics, labour availability, and quality of life.
Ensuring accessibility to these and other public services is a key factor in addressing inequalities within our societies, ranging from disparities between the wealthy and disadvantaged, old and young, male and female, and urban and rural.
This concept will then form the basis, forthly, for a genuinely fair transition. The EU’s ambitious climate objectives are pertinent and timely. Nonetheless, there should be a consistent evaluation and quick reaction to ensure the benefits it brings the public are balanced with affordable efforts from various demographics, in terms of age, income, location, etc. The green shift is a policy that will only be achieved if the society consciously backs political decisions, and it should not result in societal gaps widening.
All these problems, especially the final one, would be best dealt with in an atmosphere of increased trust in institutions across the EU – amongst citizens, in the legal system, law enforcement, media, governments, and the EU itself. Absence of trust causes social cohesion to falter, and implementation efforts of the aforementioned goals, at national or EU level, are severely impeded. The rebuilding of trust is thus a crucial challenge.
The importance of the forthcoming elections is paramount. The EU has fashioned one of the world’s most influential economies, a pioneer in areas such as the environment, and appealing work and living conditions. It is undeniable that these accomplishments cannot be overlooked, but surely, we all aspire to more and better, which is why the forthcoming European Parliament elections are so crucial. Such a time presents an opportunity for EU citizens to directly influence priority issues and expected solutions. The Union provides value and works for the benefit of all European citizens, much more than their national specificities.
There exist a multitude of reasons, with ten being highlighted here, advocating for everyone to exercise their right to vote this June. Further insights about life and employment in Europe can be discovered in Eurofound’s digital narrative. The role of Executive Director at Eurofound is filled by Ivailo Kalfin.