Member states take positions on social protection and cutting red tape.

On 1 December, the Ministers of Social Affairs and Health met in the Council for “Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs” (EPSCO). The meeting was also attended by the responsible Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Roxana Mînzatu. The agenda included, among other things, measures to simplify, improve the implementation of, and enforce regulations in the employment and social sectors. Against the backdrop of general efforts to reduce bureaucracy, the Member States shared their assessments with a clear intent: not to risk any reduction of the European social acquis or workers’ rights.

Progress Report of the European Commission

The basis for the exchange was the report presented by Roxana Mînzatu at the end of October on measures to simplify, implement, and enforce regulations in the areas of social rights and competencies, quality jobs, and social protection for the first half of 2025. The report mentions, among other things, legislative initiatives for a European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), which will digitalize certificates such as the A1 form or the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in the future. It also addresses support measures for Member States in implementing EU rules, for example the Directive on Platform Work or the Directive on Chemical Agents. The overarching goal of the European Commission is to reduce administrative burdens by 25 percent by 2030.

Since the end of last year, the European Union (EU) has increasingly pursued the goal of simplifying regulations and facilitating their practical implementation. In particular, doing business within the EU should become more efficient and faster. Numerous policy areas have already initiated concrete steps toward reducing bureaucracy. In the field of employment and social affairs, however, there is currently no omnibus initiative that reforms multiple regulations collectively for the sake of administrative simplification. Instead, possibilities for simplification are regularly examined when existing directives are being revised.

Preserving social achievements

The EPSCO meeting made it clear that Member States – including Germany – generally support reducing bureaucratic hurdles. The 25 percent reduction target by 2030 was welcomed, especially with regard to small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, there was broad consensus that simplification must in no way be seen as a precursor to deregulation. The German delegation emphasized that relief measures must not affect labor or environmental standards. The delegations from Bulgaria, Croatia, and Hungary highlighted that more efficient procedures and clearer regulations are necessary to ease the burden on administrations and businesses. At the same time, it must be ensured that core social achievements, such as in occupational health and safety, are fully preserved.

A recurring topic was the balance between economic competitiveness and strong social protection. While businesses should be relieved in a global environment and their innovation capacity strengthened, this must not come at the expense of employees. Several countries, including Sweden and Portugal, stressed that maintaining high labor protection standards is not only a social policy goal but also an economic advantage.

Targeted simplifications

Simplifications should focus on areas that bring tangible relief – for example, through digital procedures, clearer definitions, or standardized administrative processes. At the same time, every change must be examined for potential unintended consequences, such as increased protection gaps, undeclared work, or the risk of social dumping. Several countries – including France, Austria, and Slovakia – emphasized that reducing bureaucracy in the posting of workers and the coordination of social security systems (A1, eDeclaration, ESSPASS) is only useful if it is linked to effective protection standards for employees and fair rules for EU mobility. Roxana Mînzatu referred to the ESSPASS in this context as the “next bold step”.

Several countries, including Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, and Lithuania, stressed the importance of impact assessments and the regular review of existing legislation and its implementation. Greece and Portugal also cited examples showing that national measures, such as reviewing and simplifying their own laws, can make effective contributions to administrative simplification.

A strong social Europe remains a priority

Overall, the Ministers emphasized that a strong social Europe remains a central priority. The EU should not only be an attractive economic area for businesses but also an attractive workplace for employees. Therefore, all future legislative initiatives should be carefully assessed from both economic and social perspectives. The discussions made it clear that Member States are striving for a modern regulatory framework that is efficient, digital, socially balanced, and future-proof.