How to watch the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Executive VP: Presentation of EU social package

Li Andersson and 6 others

Chair and Executive Vice‑President introduce and detail the new EU social package, covering its overall architecture, anti‑poverty focus, child poverty and housing exclusion measures, and reinforcement of disability rights within current legal and budgetary limits.

In this chapter

1. Chair: Opening and framing of social package debateLi Andersson
2. Executive VP: Overall social package architecture
3. Executive VP: Child poverty, housing exclusion and homelessness
4. Executive VP: Disability rights reinforcement and limits of package

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Closure of OSH hearing and shift to social package

Joaquim Pintado Nunes and 2 others

The committee closes the occupational safety, climate and platform work hearing, then the Chair sets out the socio‑economic context and formally opens the exchange on the Commission’s new social package.

In this chapter

1. Closing of OSH / climate and platform work hearingJoaquim Pintado Nunes
2. Opening of exchange on Commission social packageLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Stakeholder and expert responses on OSH framework

Li Andersson GUE/NGL

ETUC and BusinessEurope present contrasting positions on binding rules, administrative burden and implementation flexibility, followed by detailed inputs from Commission, EU‑OSHA, ILO and ETUI on climate‑related risks, vulnerable workers, AI‑driven management and the scope of the OSH framework for future legislation such as the Quality Jobs Act.

In this chapter

1. Social partners’ responses: ETUC and BusinessEurope positionsLi Andersson
2. Stakeholders: OSH framework, climate risks and vulnerable workersLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

MEP questions: OSH framework, burden and emerging risks

Li Andersson and 6 others

Coordinators and other MEPs question the experts on protection of police and security forces, the need for an EU directive on psychosocial risks, implementation gaps of Directive 89/391, simplification targets for SMEs, and how to integrate climate, AI, algorithmic management and undeclared work into the next EU OSH framework and the Quality Jobs Act.

In this chapter

1. Opening of coordinators’ Q&A and main political group questionsLi Andersson
2. Catch‑the‑eye MEP interventions on burdens, gaps and undeclared workLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Expert presentations: ILO and ETUI on OSH priorities

Li Andersson GUE/NGL

The ILO and ETUI set out the global and European occupational safety and health priorities, stressing convergence with the ILO 2024‑2030 strategy, data and reporting gaps, new forms of work, gender and ageing issues, psychosocial and climate‑related risks, and the need to address cancers and critical raw materials at EU level.

In this chapter

1. ILO: Global OSH strategy, risks and EU roleLi Andersson
2. ETUI expert hearing: Mandate and emerging OSH risks

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Commission and EU‑OSHA: Design and evidence base for the next EU OSH strategy

Li Andersson GUE/NGL

The Commission presents the rationale, instruments and consultation process for the next EU strategic framework on OSH and its link with the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act, while EU‑OSHA details historical impacts of EU frameworks, available data and tools, and future priorities on climate, digitalisation, demographics, psychosocial risks, SMEs and competitiveness.

In this chapter

1. Chair and Commission: Post‑2027 EU OSH frameworkLi Andersson
2. EU‑OSHA: Evidence, tools and future OSH prioritiesLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Chair and social partners: Hearing opening and current OSH framework

Li Andersson GUE/NGL

The Chair opens the hearing on the post‑2027 EU strategic framework on occupational safety and health and sets the institutional context, followed by ETUC’s assessment of the current framework and priorities for a stronger binding strategy and BusinessEurope’s employers’ perspective linking OSH to competitiveness, data gaps and regulatory burden reduction.

In this chapter

1. Chair: Hearing opening and OSH policy contextLi Andersson
2. BusinessEurope: Employers’ assessment and priorities for OSHLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

EU intergenerational fairness strategy: Commission presentation and first MEP reactions

Li Andersson and 4 others

The Chair opens the agenda item and the Commission outlines the new intergenerational fairness strategy, its megatrend‑based pillars and planned tools, followed by MEPs’ first round of interventions on youth, employment, mental health, demographic decline, regulatory burden and labour precariousness.

In this chapter

1. Opening of agenda item and Commission strategy presentationLi Andersson
2. MEPs: youth, work, mental health, regulationLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Political groups’ positions and questions on standalone ESF

Georgiana Teodorescu and 1 other

Patriots (ID) challenge PPE and S&D on their real backing for an autonomous ESF outside NRPP constraints, while ECR, Renew, Greens and the Left set out divergent priorities on budget clarity, governance, flexibility and social justice objectives for the future ESF.

In this chapter

1. Q: Patriots (ID) : position des groupes PPE/S&D sur un FSE autonome
2. Shadows ECR, Renew, Greens and Left: positions on future ESFGeorgiana Teodorescu

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Future ESF/NRPP regulation: co‑rapporteurs’ mandate

Li Andersson and 1 other

The Chair and co‑rapporteurs present the ESF within NRPPs file, underline cross‑party support for a strong standalone ESF with its own budget line and social targets, and announce forthcoming shadows’ negotiations on compromises.

In this chapter

1. Introduction to ESF/NRPP file and Casa statementLi Andersson
2. Co‑rapporteur Maij: priorities for a strong standalone ESFLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

ESF 2028–2034: objectives, subsidiarity and Commission stance

Li Andersson and 4 others

From the introduction of the ESF 2028–2034 file and political groups’ priorities (standalone fund, social focus, funding, Child Guarantee) to challenges on EU competences, the Commission’s justification of the NRPP link and earmarking, and co‑rapporteurs’ closing demands and timeline towards the November EMPL vote.

In this chapter

1. ESF 2028–2034: rapporteurs and shadows’ prioritiesLi Andersson
2. ESF 2028–2034: subsidiarity, Commission stance and timelineLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Voting block: EU Youth Strategy and EGF opinion

Li Andersson GUE/NGL

Chair organises electronic voting, the committee adopts and rejects a large series of amendments to the EU Youth Strategy report before approving the final text, and then adopts in a single roll‑call its opinion to mobilise the EGF for Belgium.

In this chapter

1. EU Youth Strategy report: compromise amendments adoptedLi Andersson
2. EU Youth Strategy report: roll‑call and split votes on key amendmentsLi Andersson
3. EU Youth Strategy report: final amendment votes and close resultsLi Andersson
4. EGF opinion (Belgium): single roll‑call voteLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Committee opening, agenda and rapporteur reports

Li Andersson and 1 other

Chair opens the EMPL meeting, adopts agenda and minutes, then hears an update on the CMRD 6 trilogue and a delegation report on the socio‑economic situation and institutional shortcomings observed in La Réunion.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and agenda adoptionLi Andersson
2. Rapporteur Sommen: state of play on CMRD 6 trilogueLiesbet Sommen
3. Mission EMPL à La Réunion: rapport de délégationLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Performance framework regulation: Social objectives and indicators

The Employment Committee examines the new performance and tracking framework with the rapporteur, shadows and the Commission debating common indicators, social spending coefficients, administrative burden, subsidiarity and Parliament’s role, before announcing the vote timetable.

In this chapter

1. Performance framework regulation: Employment committee angle
2. Commission on performance regulation: Indicators, coefficients and EP role
3. Rapporteur closing on performance file and vote schedule

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Youth Guarantee implementation: Amendments and political priorities

Rapporteur and shadows review over 400 amendments on the reinforced Youth Guarantee, pointing to national implementation gaps, quality of offers, links with ESF+ funding and broader social policies, and converging priorities to shape upcoming compromises.

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

ESF in next MFF: Standalone fund vs NRPP model

The committee opens the ESF item, with co‑rapporteurs, shadows and the Commission confronting the Commission’s NRPP‑based design, the 14% social allocation, budget size, ring‑fencing for vulnerable groups, and the Parliament’s demand for a strong standalone ESF before setting the amendment deadline.

In this chapter

1. Opening of item: Future European Social Fund
2. Co-rapporteur Casa: Standalone ESF, budget and priorities
3. Co-rapporteur May: Critique of Commission proposal and ESF design

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting ICM

Final assessments, stakeholder closing remarks and chair’s conclusions

Li Andersson GUE/NGL

Experts and the Commission assess remaining wage gaps, specific national cases such as Greece and Germany, and situate the directive in the broader social pillar and human capital agenda; ETUC and BusinessEurope conclude on structural obstacles and preferred bargaining frameworks, Romania and Ireland link wages to housing and in‑work poverty, and the Chair closes with next steps for EMPL monitoring and continued cooperation.

In this chapter

1. Final expert replies: convergence, Greece, Germany and broader social agenda
2. ETUC and BusinessEurope: closing arguments on model and obstacles
3. Romania and Ireland: balancing wages, housing and competitiveness
4. Chair’s conclusions and next monitoring stepsLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting ICM

Member State implementation experiences and autonomy concerns

Li Andersson and 4 others

National MPs report on their transposition approaches, tensions between higher minimum wages and SME competitiveness, and low private‑sector coverage, while the debate broadens to wage convergence, productivity, protection of high-coverage bargaining models, and fears that statutory minimum wages could become de facto standards.

In this chapter

1. Member States’ implementation experiences and concernsLi Andersson
2. Debate on convergence, competitiveness and national autonomyLi Andersson
3. Critiques and support: Czech, Greek and French perspectivesLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting ICM

Social partners and early transposers: models and priorities

Li Andersson GUE/NGL

ETUC and BusinessEurope set out opposing priorities on wage growth, competitiveness, and EU-level support for collective bargaining, while Romania and Ireland present their early transposition choices, formula-based minimum wage setting, and strategies to raise collective bargaining coverage from low levels.

In this chapter

1. ETUC and BusinessEurope: diverging social partner prioritiesLi Andersson
2. Romania and Ireland: early transposers’ reformsLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting ICM

Session 2 opening: implementation, adequacy and coverage

Li Andersson GUE/NGL

The second session starts with an expert overview of transposition choices, use of the 60% median/50% average wage benchmarks, and collective bargaining action plans, followed by the co‑rapporteur and Commission explaining expectations for more ambitious plans, upcoming monitoring, and integration into the European Semester.

In this chapter

1. Session 2 opening: focus on implementationLi Andersson
2. Schulten: state of transposition and minimum wage adequacy
3. Schulten: collective bargaining coverage and action plansLi Andersson
4. Radke and Commission: reading the plans and enforcement approachLi Andersson

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting ICM

Session 1: CJEU ruling and political implications

Li Andersson and 4 others

The first session introduces the scope of the CJEU judgment on the minimum wage directive, provides a detailed legal assessment of the annulled adequacy provisions, and gathers MEP and national parliament reactions on EU competence, collective bargaining coverage targets, Nordic model concerns, and the political significance of the ruling before a short break.

In this chapter

1. Session 1 introduction: scope of CJEU ruling and debate rulesLi Andersson
2. Prof. Garben: legal analysis of the CJEU judgmentLi Andersson
3. MEP Maij: political significance and implementation pressureMarit Maij

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting ICM

Opening and Commission framing of the directive

Li Andersson GUE/NGL

The Chair and Commission define the meeting’s objectives around adequate minimum wage protection and collective bargaining, link the directive to the EU antipoverty and social pillar agenda, recall the CJEU’s validation of its legal basis, and outline monitoring, first reporting and the role of national parliaments.

In this chapter

1. Opening: objectives of the ICM on minimum wagesLi Andersson
2. Agenda, format and accessibility of the meetingLi Andersson
3. Commission (Nava): antipoverty strategy and social model

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Extraordinary meeting Structured dialogue with EVP Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib

Q&A Round 2: resistance to pay transparency, accessibility and militarisation concerns

Li Andersson and 5 others

MEPs highlight national refusals and lobbying against the Pay Transparency Directive, lack of accessibility and continued institutionalisation for persons with disabilities, and fears that rising defence spending crowds out social and care budgets, while the Commissioner defends pay transparency, outlines tools to enforce accessibility (including Accessible EU and infringement procedures), and frames crisis preparedness and humanitarian action within an all‑hazards, conflict‑prevention approach.

In this chapter

1. Q&A Round 2 (part 1): resistance to pay transparency and institutionalisationLi Andersson
2. Q&A Round 2 (part 2): militarisation vs social and care budgetsLi Andersson
3. Commissioner: defending pay transparency and enforcing accessibilityVéronique Siegel
4. Commissioner: crisis preparedness and humanitarian actionVéronique Siegel

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Extraordinary meeting Structured dialogue with EVP Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib

Commissioner’s strategy outline and Q&A Round 1: disability rights and pay transparency

Véronique Siegel and 5 others

The Commissioner presents the new Gender Equality Strategy and progress on the Disability Rights Strategy, EU disability and parking cards and care initiatives, followed by an initial Q&A where MEPs press for stronger ambition on UN CRPD implementation, funding for independent living, and defence of the Pay Transparency Directive against political pushback and perceived ideological or bureaucratic excesses.

In this chapter

1. Q&A Round 1: disability strategy ambition and pay gapLi Andersson
2. Commissioner: midterm review of disability strategy and pay transparencyVéronique Siegel

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Extraordinary meeting Structured dialogue with EVP Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib

Opening of EMPL meeting and structured dialogue mandate

Li Andersson and 1 other

The Chair formally opens the extraordinary EMPL meeting, adopts the agenda and minutes, explains practical arrangements, and sets out the mandate and expectations for the structured dialogue with the Commissioner on gender equality and disability policies, including key files such as pay transparency, care, and disability strategies.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting: agenda and minutesLi Andersson
2. Chair: mandate for structured dialogueLi Andersson
3. Commissioner: new gender and disability strategiesVéronique Siegel

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Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

EU Youth Strategy: EMPL opinion, group priorities and post‑2027 framework

Li Andersson and 2 others

EMPL sets out its opinion on the EU Youth Strategy with emphasis on employment, skills and ESF+, political groups stress job quality, inclusion and funding issues, and the Commission outlines preparations for the post‑2027 strategy and upcoming youth participation and consultation processes.

In this chapter

1. EU Youth Strategy opinion: rapporteur’s focus on jobs and skillsLi Andersson
2. EU Youth Strategy: group priorities on job quality, ESF+ and inclusionAodhán Ó Ríordáin
3. Commission: preparing post‑2027 EU Youth Strategy and youth participation

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