Abstract
Social protection will be a crucial safety net for the people most affected by climate change and green transition policies, particularly for those in vulnerable situations. It is an essential component of ensuring the ‘just and fair’ transition promised by the European Green Deal.
The Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality of June 2022 includes provisions on social protection that could guide Member States of the European Union (EU) towards reconsidering and adapting their social protection systems to challenges arising from the green transition. However, because Council Recommendations are non-binding acts, efforts to promote Member State implementation are particularly important.
These should include the development of a monitoring framework and European Commission guidelines on the meaning of Recommendation provisions, accompanied by technical assistance, exchange of best practices and policy coordination, with the active involvement of social partners and civil society. There is also a clear need for additional funding, including from EU funds that can be leveraged to incentivise implementation.
Legally binding EU measures specifically related to social protection systems remain unlikely, not least because, where a dedicated legal basis is available, it requires unanimity across Member States. There may be opportunities in the new European Commission mandate, however, to include social protection-related requirements in legal instruments that seek to promote just transition, building on the Council Recommendation.
The Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality of June 2022 includes provisions on social protection that could guide Member States of the European Union (EU) towards reconsidering and adapting their social protection systems to challenges arising from the green transition. However, because Council Recommendations are non-binding acts, efforts to promote Member State implementation are particularly important.
These should include the development of a monitoring framework and European Commission guidelines on the meaning of Recommendation provisions, accompanied by technical assistance, exchange of best practices and policy coordination, with the active involvement of social partners and civil society. There is also a clear need for additional funding, including from EU funds that can be leveraged to incentivise implementation.
Legally binding EU measures specifically related to social protection systems remain unlikely, not least because, where a dedicated legal basis is available, it requires unanimity across Member States. There may be opportunities in the new European Commission mandate, however, to include social protection-related requirements in legal instruments that seek to promote just transition, building on the Council Recommendation.
| Original language | English |
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| Place of Publication | Brussels |
| Publisher | European Trade Union Institute |
| Pages | 1-8 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |
| Series | European Trade Union Institute Policy Brief |
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| ISSN | 2031-8782 |