Progressives from across Europe came together today at the meeting of the PES Social Europe Network (SEN), exchanging views on key upcoming European initiatives shaping the future of work and of Social Europe. Discussions focused on the newly presented Public Procurement Act, the upcoming Fair Labour Mobility Package, the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the upcoming EU Delivery Act.
Participants underlined that only a fair society can strengthen Europe’s economic competitiveness: public money and European legislation must promote quality jobs, fair working conditions and strong social standards, while ensuring that workers are protected against exploitation and abusive practices.
PES SEN Chair, Gaby Bischoff, said:
“Europe has the tools to make a real difference in people’s lives. The regulatory framework on public procurement, labour mobility, and social rights must all serve the same objective: ensuring that economic progress goes hand in hand with social progress. Public money should reward quality jobs and respect for workers’ rights. Freedom of movement needs strong rules to guarantee fair mobility for workers and to stop exploitation. Progressives will continue fighting for a Europe where competitiveness is never built at the expense of workers, where social rights are translated into concrete improvements in people’s everyday lives, and where people can afford their daily essentials.”
The discussion focused on the European Commission’s newly presented Public Procurement Act. With public procurement representing a significant share of Europe’s economy (about 16% of the EU’s GDP), participants stressed that public contracts need to be subject to social rules and should not be awarded on the lowest-price-principle. Instead, public spending must promote fair working conditions, collective bargaining, and high social and environmental standards.
The Network also exchanged views on the upcoming Fair Labour Mobility Package, spearheaded by Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu and expected to be presented on 15 September. Since the freedom of movement is a fundamental right of European workers, participants agreed that mobility must be accompanied by an effective enforcement of labour rights and the principle of equal treatment. This requires the improvement of social security coordination, the strengthening of the European Labour Authority, and the facilitation of the portability of skills. Members insisted on the urgent need for stronger European action against abusive subcontracting practices.
The meeting participants furthermore took stock of the European Commission’s recent Communication on the European Pillar of Social Rights. As Europe approaches the Pillar’s tenth anniversary in 2027, progressives welcomed the renewed commitment to Social Europe while stressing that ambition must be translated into concrete action.
Finally, the Network addressed the future EU Delivery Act, expected to modernise Europe’s regulatory framework for delivery services. With changes likely affecting postal and delivery systems and workers across Europe, participants highlighted the importance of ensuring that any future framework gives absolute priority to the protection and empowerment of workers throughout the sector.
The meeting brought together PES member parties, trade union and civil society representatives, and Members of the S&D Group in the European Parliament to coordinate common progressive priorities on social and employment policies at European level.
