By the EESC Workers' Group

There will be major repercussions for European labour markets in the near future, notably as a result of the transition to a climate-neutral, globalised and digital economy. The European response could include minimum standards for national unemployment insurance schemes, which could be an effective and pragmatic tool for achieving social convergence in the EU. The core of this proposal entails ensuring a fair amount of financial support, coupled with a sufficient entitlement period for as many workers as possible in the EU.

Since unemployment is a risk that concerns every worker throughout the EU, the European Pillar of Social Rights rightly mentions "access to adequate unemployment benefits of reasonable duration" as one of its key principles. However, minimum standards for unemployment insurance schemes would not only provide financial support: they would also enable access to adequate training, skills development and activation.

The EESC has for a long time been calling for a more social Europe. Minimum standards for unemployment insurance schemes could obviously not be realised overnight: Developing and implementing them would take some time, and a binding directive would only be the last resort in this process of convergence. Nevertheless, real efforts are necessary to make this project a reality. We need to deliver on the European Pillar of Social Rights in order to combat poverty across Europe! (at)