Conference on social Europe took place for the third time in Porto.

On 18–19 September, the European Commission, together with Portugal, hosted the Porto Social Forum 2025 to place social Europe at the centre of attention. This year’s theme was strengthening competitiveness through a strong social agenda. Under the headline “Quality Jobs in a Competitive Europe”, high-level representatives of the institutions of the European Union (EU), the Member States and the social partners discussed the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, the promotion of quality jobs, and the role of competitiveness, social fairness and social dialogue in the green and digital transitions.

Social fairness and competitiveness

In her opening statement, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Roxana Mînzatu stressed that Europe’s social dimension and competitiveness are inseparably linked. Labour shortages, low productivity and skills gaps could not be addressed by lowering wages or cutting back social protection, but only by creating quality jobs. The announced Quality Jobs Act will therefore focus on three areas: rights, digitalisation and transitions. Labour rights must be upheld and strengthened to ensure fair pay and safe working conditions for all workers, particularly those in precarious employment. Digitalisation should be designed in such a way that it harnesses opportunities for productivity and innovation while guarding against risks of job insecurity or weaker protection for workers. Transitions refer to the need to prepare workers for changes in the labour market. Labour mobility must also be made fair: free movement within the single market requires equal rights, recognition of qualifications, social protection and safeguards against social dumping. With regard to the Labour Mobility Package announced for 2026, Mînzatu underlined the need to strike a balance between opportunities and freedoms on the one hand and strong protection for workers on the other.

Implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights

One of the panel discussions addressed the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Guiding questions included how a new Action Plan could strengthen the EU’s competitiveness in times of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, and which policy measures should be included. A representative of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) stressed that competitiveness could not be built on low wages, precarious jobs or social dumping, but must rest on quality jobs, strong collective bargaining and robust social protection systems. He called for binding indicators for a fourth headline target on quality jobs under the Action Plan by 2030. The new Action Plan should also ensure the full implementation of existing Directives – such as those on minimum wages, pay transparency and platform work – as well as provide financial investments to underpin its social ambitions. A representative of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) questioned the often-cited link between social fairness and competitiveness, warning that social fairness would suffer if essential services were subjected to the market and labour markets deregulated. Social rights must not be subordinated to competitiveness but should guide Europe’s economic model.

Free and fair labour mobility

Another panel focused on free and fair labour mobility, also in the context of the planned Labour Mobility Package. Discussions centred on enforcement, modernisation and simplification of existing rules and procedures. Member States and social partners highlighted challenges such as abusive posting of workers, letter-box companies, long subcontracting chains and the unclear legal framework for the posting of third-country nationals. The potential of digital solutions for mobility was also discussed. A key example was the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), which could make procedures easier for both companies and mobile workers while reducing errors and abuse in the area of social security. A representative of Denmark argued for broadening the ESSPASS into a European Labour Card, providing transparent information on employment relationships and thus preventing social dumping. It also became clear that decent working conditions are the prerequisite for fair mobility. Michael Schäfer, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, emphasised the need for an EU-wide, publicly funded advisory network for workers in precarious sectors, which from the German perspective should be part of the Labour Mobility Package.

Quality jobs as a 2030 headline target

Another panel addressed the question of a possible fourth headline target on quality jobs under the new Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights. Estelle Ceulemans (S&D, BE) highlighted four priorities for the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL): the implementation of the EU Minimum Wage Directive, EU-level measures to address psychosocial risks at work, an individual right to training, and adequate social protection, particularly in the context of the multiple ongoing transitions. From EMPL’s perspective, the three existing headline targets must first be assessed for effectiveness before any new target is formulated. A new target would only make sense if it were sufficiently ambitious and could demonstrably lead to more quality jobs. State Secretary Michael Schäfer stressed two issues of particular importance for Germany: fair labour mobility and artificial intelligence (AI). He advocated for the introduction of the ESSPASS, clear rules for posting of third-country nationals and stronger enforcement of legal standards in subcontracting chains. Regarding AI, he called for tailored legal and practical solutions. According to him, current EU legislation is largely cross-cutting and insufficient. Germany therefore welcomed the European Commission’s planned initiative on algorithmic management, while underlining that there must be scope for complementary national rules reflecting the situation in individual Member States.

Background to the Social Forum

The Forum builds on the Porto Social Summit of 2021, at which the first Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights, presented by the European Commission in March 2021, was endorsed and politically reinforced. The Porto Summit Declaration of 2021 was signed by the President of the Commission, the Presidents of the Council and the European Parliament, as well as representatives of the social partners. The European Council also confirmed the social objectives of the Pillar through its own Porto Declaration, in particular the implementation of the headline targets under the Action Plan by 2030. The Forum was thereafter scheduled to take place every two years in Porto. In 2023, 37 European politicians reaffirmed their commitment to a social Europe. This year, however, participants were unable to agree on a joint declaration. While some delegations raised substantive concerns, the European Parliament criticised the fact that it had been involved too late in the process.