On Friday 29 October, the European Commission launched a call for contributions to feed into the preparation of an EU Council recommendation on the social and labour aspects of the just transition to climate neutrality.
The aim, the institution explains, is to provide recommendations and advice to Member States on how best to address the social and labour aspects of transition.
More specifically, the recommendation will focus on packages of measures to support the ecological transition while sustaining jobs, ensuring access to lifelong learning, but also to essential services (energy and transport), again with a focus on the most vulnerable groups. The idea is also to strengthen the participation of social partners and to reinforce the follow-up.
This initiative follows the ‘Fit for 55’ communication and the proposal to create a Social Climate Fund (see EUROPE 12762/6) and is expected to be part of the second ‘Fit for 55’ package scheduled for 14 December (see EUROPE 12788/13).
The Social Climate Fund, which should have €72.2 billion allocated (double that with national co-financing) is seen by many, even within the Commission, as unambitious. Some, such as the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, have called for the Fund to be strengthened (see EUROPE 12764/24). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)