What are the priorities for implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights with a strong local and regional involvement?
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) welcomes the European Pillar of Social Rights as a step toward strengthening fairness and equality in Europe. While supporting its ambition, CEMR stresses that the measures linked to the Pillar’s 20 principles should remain non-binding, respecting the diversity of national, regional and local competences. For local and regional governments, the Pillar should serve as a reference framework to inspire reforms, rather than impose uniform rules.
CEMR identifies key challenges where Europe must act: rising inequality, persistent poverty, gender gaps, and labour market transitions accelerated by digitalisation and COVID-19. Municipalities and regions, as major providers of education, housing, health, social inclusion and employment services, are at the heart of delivering social rights.
CEMR’s policy priorities include:
- Skills and education: investment in training, apprenticeships and digital access to avoid a “lost generation” of young people.
- Demographic change: integrating women, older workers, migrants, and disadvantaged groups into the labour market.
- Gender equality: boosting women’s participation and addressing work-life balance challenges, especially in the pandemic’s aftermath.
At the same time, CEMR warns against excessive bureaucracy or additional reporting obligations for local authorities, calling instead for best practice exchange, benchmarks, and adequate funding.
For the European Pillar of Social Rights to succeed, it must respect subsidiarity, strengthen social dialogue, and involve local and regional governments as essential actors. Municipalities, cities, and regions are indispensable in turning principles into concrete progress, provided they are given the flexibility, resources and recognition needed to deliver.
For more information, contact:
Officer – Employment, Digitalisation and Public Services
