Anna Diamantopoulou, President of the EU Commission on the Future of the Welfare State Skai.gr

Former European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou has been appointed chair of the European Union High Level Committee on the Future of the Welfare State, Social Protection and Labor.

The Commission’s mission is to formulate policy proposals for welfare state reform, towards the European Commission and the EU Member States, by 2030, taking into account the implications of the great challenges of the 21st century, such as the digital transition, climate change. and radical changes in forms of work.

The Commission is called upon to analyze the effects of the prevailing trends of our time on the welfare state. Specifically:

* demographic change, with shrinking productive human resources and an aging population.

* the transformation of the labor markets brought about by the digital (4th Industrial Revolution) and the green transition, including the new forms of employment relations (platform workers, click workers, crowd workers)

* the globalization and the emergence of new dangers highlighted by the experience of the pandemic.

At the same time, the Commission will focus on the experience of COVID-19 and the interaction of social protection systems, with other social policies such as education, social inclusion, healthcare and policies for people with disabilities and long-term care.

At the end of 2022, the Commission will present a set of policy proposals for welfare state reform by 2030.

At the inaugural meeting of the Commission, on Tuesday 16 November 2021, at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels (Berlaymont), the President, Anna Diamantopoulou, stated:

“Developments in the 21st century are characterized by speed and uncertainty. The Delphic order “Kairon Gnothi”, that is, to know well the challenges of his time, remains relevant. The fight against the climate crisis, the digital transition (4th Industrial Revolution), the reaffirmation of the importance of the role of the state in social protection and the defense of human dignity are just some of the challenges that Europe is already facing. The welfare state, of course, is not unaffected by developments. Social protection is the diamond in the crown of the European edifice. The role of the Commission is to formulate clear and innovative proposals for the reform and strengthening of the welfare state in the EU by 2030. Our goal is for the welfare state to become sustainable and resilient and to respond to changing and increasingly demanding conditions. The relevant decision of the European Council on the establishment of our Commission, during the Portuguese Presidency, in 2021, the determination and preparation of the European Commission and the high-ranking personalities participating in our Commission, are a guarantee that this goal, although difficult, will be achieved”.

European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights Nicolas Smith said:

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of effective social protection systems and the welfare state in mitigating the economic and social consequences of a crisis. Today, we must work to make the welfare state fit for the future. Our goal for the future of Europe is clear: We must provide social protection for all, tackle poverty effectively, reduce inequalities and empower all Europeans to be fully involved in society. “I look forward to joining forces with the High Level Committee in our joint effort to ensure a strong social Europe for the future.”