Over the past several years, in the face of global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, climate change and the digital transition, the European Union has redoubled its efforts to protect and empower people and communities. In 2024, its work to improve living and working conditions for everyone continued apace. As the successful European Year of Skills wrapped up, the European Commission presented a new action plan to tackle labour and skills shortages, thereby supporting the EU’s sustainable and inclusive growth and ensuring its competitiveness. The EU continued to support new measures so workers can enjoy their social rights. For example, new rules are starting to ensure that workers are protected by adequate minimum wages, while new rights and protections will improve conditions for workers in the gig economy. In addition, the EU approved a groundbreaking law to combat violence against women and introduced new cards that will make travelling easier for persons with disabilities.

The EU has set an ambitious course towards a fair and inclusive Europe that protects its citizens and creates opportunities. Its policies aim to improve living and working conditions for everyone in the EU by promoting more and better jobs, skills, equality, and social protection and inclusion.

The 20 principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights - open a new tab. – and the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan - open a new tab. that will turn these principles into concrete measures – guide EU and national policy in these key areas. At an April high-level conference - open a new tab. in La Hulpe, Belgium, the EU, its social partners and civil-society organisations renewed their commitment to a stronger social Europe by signing a declaration reaffirming the pillar as the guiding framework for EU social policies. The La Hulpe Declaration on the Future of the European Pillar of Social Rights also welcomes the upcoming review of the related action plan in 2025. This review will also serve as a basis for further action to achieve the 2030 EU and national headline targets for employment, skills, and poverty reduction.

Progress at the EU and national levels towards the targets is monitored in detail in the annual Joint Employment Report. The latest report - open a new tab. shows that the EU is well on track towards its employment target following a job-rich recovery. However, significant headway still needs to be made to reach the target on poverty reduction, progress towards which has improved slightly even in the face of the various crises over the last several years, and notably despite high inflation. Further progress is also needed on adult learning, with the effects of the EU’s policy efforts in this area yet to be felt in most Member States.

Three EU-wide targets

• At least 78 % of the population aged 20 to 64 should be in employment by 2030.
• At least 60 % of all adults should participate in training every year by 2030.
• The number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion should decrease by at least 15 million by 2030.

Homelessness is one of the most extreme forms of social exclusion, and affects all Member States. In February, an informal ministerial conference - open a new tab. brought representatives from Member States and the European Parliament together with experts and associations actively combating homelessness. Delegates expressed their support for the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness - open a new tab., welcoming the work done so far. They stressed the need to increase the effort, political commitment and resources put into tackling homelessness, with the aim of achieving the Lisbon Declaration objective of working towards ending homelessness by 2030. The conclusions of the conference were reflected in the La Hulpe Declaration.

Multiple projects complementing the work of the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness and supported by the EU were launched in 2024, including the European Homelessness Count - open a new tab., the OECD Toolkit to Combat Homelessness - open a new tab. and four pilot projects tackling homelessness.

Addressing labour and skills shortages

Labour and skills shortages have been rising in all Member States for almost a decade. This is largely due to demographic change and the increasing demand for skills as part of the green and digital transitions, and also to poor working conditions in certain occupations and sectors. The Commission has identified more than 40 occupations across different sectors that are experiencing EU-wide shortages - open a new tab., with some differences across the Member States. Addressing these shortages is key to increasing the EU’s capacity for innovation, unlocking its growth potential, boosting its competitiveness, fostering quality job creation and increasing economic and social resilience.

• By 2030, 3.5 million new jobs are expected to be created in renewable energy sectors.
• Nearly two thirds (63 %) of small and medium-sized enterprises cannot find the talent they need.
• Forty-two occupations are experiencing EU-wide shortages.

To tackle this challenge, in March the Commission presented an action plan - open a new tab., prepared in close cooperation with its social partners, who, being closest to the labour market, play a crucial role in helping to implement solutions to address these challenges. The plan provides a comprehensive framework to address shortages along five main policy areas at the EU, national and social-partner levels.

Implementing the action plan will be crucial for achieving the EU’s headline targets on employment and skills by 2030. The plan builds on the many policy and funding measures already in place at the EU level, such as the Pact for Skills - open a new tab.. Skills partnerships have committed to offer reskilling and upskilling opportunities for more than 25 million people of working age across the EU by 2030. In addition, since its launch in 2020, Pact for Skills members have together invested over €150 million in upskilling and reskilling activities. Moreover, the EU is investing around €65 billion in skills programmes, notably via the Recovery and Resilience Facility - open a new tab. (see Chapter 3) and the European Social Fund Plus - open a new tab..

The European Year of Skills, which ran from 9 May 2023 to 8 May 2024, provided fresh impetus to lifelong learning by putting skills centre stage and helping match people’s aspirations and skill sets with opportunities in the job market. Local communication efforts reached millions of people, contributing to a significant increase in awareness of EU skills policies.

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The New European Bauhaus Academy - open a new tab., which aims to boost sustainability skills in the construction sector, was launched in April. The academy will combine the values of sustainability, aesthetics and inclusiveness and support the implementation of the European Green Deal - open a new tab.. Over the next two years, it will bring together educational and training professionals and connect five local and regional hubs across Europe.

Supporting workers

New rules - open a new tab. that aim to ensure that national minimum wages guarantee a decent living for workers were to be incorporated into national law by 15 November. The majority of the Member States have notified the Commission that they have done so. The implementation of the directive on adequate minimum wages will contribute to better living and working conditions by improving the adequacy of statutory minimum wages and promoting collective bargaining on wages. It will also enhance the access of workers to minimum-wage protection through better enforcement, information and redress mechanisms. The directive has already started to produce positive effects, prompting debates at the national level on the adequacy of minimum wages. As a result, over the past two years, statutory minimum wages have increased significantly in most Member States, helping to compensate for the impact of high inflation on the purchasing power of low-wage earners.

In July 2024, the minimum wage in the EU Member States ranged from €477 per month in Bulgaria to €2 571 per month in Luxembourg.

The EU established new rules - open a new tab. in 2024 to improve the working conditions of 28 million platform workers in the EU. The Platform Work Directive will ensure that the employment status of people working through digital labour platforms is correctly classified. Once reclassified, platform workers will be able to enjoy the labour rights and social benefits they are entitled to. The new rules also promote greater transparency and accountability with respect to automated systems that support or replace managerial functions at work, including the right to contest algorithm-driven decisions. Member States have two years to incorporate the rules into their national legislation.

In addition, efforts to strengthen bodies that represent European workers in multinational companies advanced in 2024. A new proposal - open a new tab. to revise the current rules seeks to strengthen the role of European Works Councils - open a new tab., which consult workers and keep them informed about decisions that could affect their employment or working conditions. The aim is to make these bodies easier to set up, improve their gender balance and ensure workers are consulted before decisions are made.

Telework has become widespread, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the EU Labour Force Survey - open a new tab., the overall proportion of employees working from home in the EU has more than doubled in the last few years, from 11.1 % in 2019 to 22.4 % in 2023. At the same time, more attention has been given to the impact of an ‘always on’ culture on workers’ mental health. In March, a two-stage consultation was launched - open a new tab. with social partners on fair telework and the right to disconnect.

It is estimated that there are around 3.1 million trainees in the EU. Quality traineeships can help young people gain practical work experience and learn new skills, while enabling employers to attract, train and retain staff. In March, the Commission put forward an initiative to improve working conditions for trainees in the EU, including pay, inclusiveness and the quality of traineeships. As well as revising the existing Quality Framework for Traineeships - open a new tab. to address issues such as fair pay and access to social protection, it also proposes legislative action to improve working conditions for trainees and combat employment disguised as traineeships.

To support the labour market further, the EU introduced new funding - open a new tab. worth €23 million through the European Social Fund Plus for innovative projects aimed at reducing long-term unemployment and helping people find work. The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers - open a new tab. also provided support to nearly 1 600 workers laid off in Belgium, Denmark and Germany.

Strengthening social dialogue

Social partners – organisations representing the interests of EU workers and employers – play an important role in improving working conditions and productivity, strengthening the competitiveness of EU businesses and boosting the EU’s prosperity and resilience. This is especially relevant in view of the changes brought about by new technologies and the need for a fair transition to climate neutrality. At a January meeting in Val Duchesse, Brussels, Belgium, the EU and its social partners agreed to renew - open a new tab. their commitment to strengthen social dialogue at the EU level and to join forces in addressing key challenges in the EU’s economies and labour markets. The social partners also discussed labour market challenges at the Tripartite Social Summit - open a new tab. in March.

The European Education Area

The European Education Area - open a new tab. is the EU’s main policy strategy for education to help Member States work together to build more inclusive and resilient education and training systems. It aims to remove barriers to learning and improve access to quality and inclusive education, training and lifelong learning for all. As part of this vision, the EU launched an initiative to establish alliances between higher education institutions from across Europe.

Over the last five years, the European Universities initiative - open a new tab., funded by Erasmus+ - open a new tab., has gone from strength to strength. With the addition of 14 new alliances - open a new tab., joining the 50 previously selected, this initiative has achieved the goal - open a new tab. of having at least 60 European Universities alliances, with more than 500 universities being involved by mid 2024. By working together and pooling resources, higher education institutions can offer innovative programmes and the cutting-edge skills needed for the green and digital transitions across the EU. Universities will be able to offer attractive and competitive joint degree programmes and attract and retain talent from around the world.

Learning mobility

Supporting research and innovation

2024 marked 40 years - open a new tab. since the launch of the EU’s first funding programme dedicated to research and innovation. Since 1984, the EU has invested over €280 billion in science, research and innovation, providing more than 120 000 grants to around 75 000 beneficiaries. This funding has created quality jobs, supported innovative companies and enhanced the EU’s competitiveness and technological leadership. Over the last four decades, the EU has increased its investment in the field of research and innovation and expanded its focus to tackle global challenges, harness the potential of technology and meet the changing needs of society. The fruits of these labours have also been recognised by the awarding of more than 30 Nobel Prizes to EU-funded researchers.

Horizon 2020

Horizon Europe

A new feature of the current research and innovation framework programme for 2021–2027, Horizon Europe - open a new tab., is the introduction of strategic plans, developed by the Commission together with the Member States, associated countries and the Parliament with input from stakeholders and citizens. The second Horizon Europe Strategic Plan - open a new tab., published in March, sets the focus for the final three years of the programme (2025–2027). This will steer research and innovation funding within and beyond Europe to tackle key global challenges such as climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity, the digital transition and an ageing population. With this new strategic plan, the EU is raising the programme’s ambition on biodiversity by making a commitment to dedicate 10 % of Horizon Europe’s total budget for 2025–2027 to biodiversity-related topics. This complements existing targets for climate expenditure (35 % over the lifetime of Horizon Europe) and the main digital activities (€13 billion over the same period).

The strategic plan also introduces the New European Bauhaus Facility - open a new tab., a new funding tool to revitalise neighbourhoods in the EU and beyond. From 2025 to 2027, €120 million per year will be made available for New European Bauhaus projects on research and innovation through Horizon Europe, with a similar level of funding expected to come from other EU programmes to support the roll-out. The pioneering New European Bauhaus initiative brings citizens, public authorities, experts, businesses, universities and institutions together to reimagine and jointly promote sustainable and inclusive living.

Under Horizon Europe, the European Research Council - open a new tab. helps to push the boundaries of knowledge across all fields of science and scholarship through its prestigious grant schemes. Grants worth a total of €2.3 billion were awarded in 2024 to projects selected based on their scientific excellence.

€1.25 billion in funding was announced during the year to support research under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the EU’s flagship programme for doctoral and postdoctoral training. The funding will support and provide jobs to about 10 000 talented researchers from all over the world at all stages of their career.

To improve conditions for career development and attract and retain researchers in Europe, the European Research Area Talent Platform - open a new tab. was launched in June. It will act as a central hub offering researchers easy access to career development, funding and international collaboration tools, boosting their mobility and career progression across Europe.

Equality and non-discrimination are core values and fundamental rights in the EU. To ensure an open and inclusive society, the EU has put in place a range of dedicated strategies, with concrete measures and funding available to make a difference to people’s lives across the EU.

EU-wide disability and parking cards

New rules creating the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities were approved - open a new tab. in October. The cards will apply to EU citizens and family members with recognised disabilities, and to non-EU citizens with recognised disabilities living in the EU.

When travelling in other Member States, the European Disability Card will provide equal access to special conditions and preferential treatment offered by a wide range of services. These could include, for example, priority or free access, personal assistance in venues, braille or audio guides, and free or reduced fares. European Parking Card holders will be able to access parking conditions and facilities for persons with disabilities in other Member States. The new rules will apply for short stays of up to three months, or for longer periods in some cases, for example for cardholders participating in EU mobility programmes (such as Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps - open a new tab. projects). Member States may also apply the directive for longer periods for other cardholders.

The European Disability Card will complement national disability cards or certificates, and the new parking card will replace the current EU parking card for persons with disabilities. Both cards are expected to be operational across the EU in 2028.

Making our cities more accessible

Accessible spaces are a crucial first step towards achieving equality. 2024 marked the 15th anniversary of the Access City Award - open a new tab., a prestigious prize that recognises the outstanding efforts EU cities are making to prioritise accessibility for persons with disabilities.

In November, Vienna, Austria, won the 2025 Access City Award - open a new tab. for being a standout example of how big capital cities can successfully integrate accessibility into every aspect of urban life. To celebrate the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Nuremberg, Germany, was awarded a special mention for accessible sports infrastructure for investing in inclusive sport centres with adapted equipment and training for coaches in adaptive sports and inclusive swimming.

Gender equality

The EU has made significant advances in promoting gender equality over recent years. Milestones include new rules on pay transparency - open a new tab. to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work, new rights to improve work–life balance - open a new tab. and targets to improve gender balance on corporate boards - open a new tab..

However, despite substantial progress, there is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality. According to the 2024 Report on Gender Equality in the EU - PDF file, open a new tab., significant gender gaps still exist in the labour market and in decision-making positions, including political representation, while gender stereotypes of women’s role in society remain a challenge. In addition, women and girls remain particularly vulnerable to the consequences of war and conflict. The report also notes increased obstacles to freedom of expression, especially online, and a growing backlash against women’s rights in various parts of the world.

In 2024, a groundbreaking EU law - open a new tab. combating violence against women and domestic violence was adopted. The new law makes certain forms of violence against women into specific criminal offences, notably female genital mutilation, forced marriage and the most widespread forms of cyberviolence (e.g. the non-consensual sharing of intimate or manipulated material, cyberstalking and cyber harassment), along with gender-based cyber incitement to violence or hatred.

New standards for equality bodies

Strengthening LGBTIQ equality in Europe

Combating racism in all its forms

The first progress report - open a new tab. on the 2021–2030 EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life was published in 2024. It shows that since the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the war that ensued in Gaza, Europe has witnessed the highest levels of hate incidents and violence targeting Jewish people since the founding of the EU. According to a 2023 survey - open a new tab. by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the level of antisemitism was already high even before the Hamas attacks, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The report sets out how the EU and its Member States are working to combat antisemitism and the measures they have taken to reinforce the security of Jewish communities. It presents progress in building sustainable EU and national structures to prevent and fight antisemitism. As a result of the EU strategy, 23 Member States have adopted a national strategy against antisemitism and 20 have appointed a national coordinator on antisemitism.

According to the report Being Muslim in the EU – Experiences of Muslims - PDF file, open a new tab., published by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights in October, almost one in two Muslims in the EU faces racism and discrimination in their daily life – a sharp rise since 2016. Muslim women, men and children are targeted, both online and offline, not just because of their religion, but also because of their skin colour and their ethnic or immigrant background. The figures used in the report were collected before the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 and the war that ensued in Gaza, which increased anti-Muslim hatred.

A report on the implementation of national Roma strategic frameworks - open a new tab. highlights the progress made by Member States and enlargement countries in establishing the necessary structures, processes and programmes for the effective implementation of their national Roma frameworks. While these efforts mark an important step forward, there is still room for increased ambition to fully achieve the EU’s targets for 2030 - PDF file, open a new tab., which monitor how well the objectives of the EU Roma Strategic Framework have been achieved in the areas of equality, socioeconomic inclusion and meaningful Roma participation. The EU remains committed to supporting Member States with guidance and by monitoring the implementation of their national Roma frameworks.

Celebrating inclusive societies

European Diversity Month in May embodies the EU’s long-term commitment to diverse and inclusive workplaces and societies. More than 50 events took place across the EU in 2024. One of the highlights was the third edition of the annual European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award - open a new tab., which recognises the work done by EU cities, towns or regions to promote inclusion and create discrimination-free societies. A specific award category was included this year for authorities enabling safe towns, cities and regions by addressing violence against women.