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Reform Support

Labour market, social protection and migration

Labour market

Member States face the common challenge of the ongoing structural transformation of labour markets in the light of the digital and green transition. The Commission complements available funding tools at EU level by offering Member States concrete technical support with the design, planning and implementation of labour market reforms. Technical support projects can address both the revision of key labour market policies and the strengthening of the administrative capacity of the labour administration. The Commission can also support national structural reforms to close the gender gap by addressing unbalances between women and men in employment, pay, pension, income.

EXAMPLES OF SUPPORT AREAS

  • Developing innovation and employment policies
  • Fighting undeclared work
  • Fostering the use of administrative data for policymaking
  • Modernising the administration of labour market policies and programmes
  • Strengthening the effectiveness of active labour market policies

Social protection

Ageing populations as well as the transformation of labour markets and economies pose challenges to the public provision of social benefits and services. The Commission supports Member States with the adaptation of their social protection systems in various ways and during all phases of the reform process. The support provided ranges from measures to strengthen administrative capacity to the review of benefit schemes, and an improved and better-coordinated delivery of social services.

EXAMPLES OF SUPPORT AREAS

  • Developing inclusion and integration policies
  • Improving the analytical capacity of social security administrations
  • Improving the delivery of social services
  • Improving the targeting and adequacy of social benefits
  • Modernising the administration of social benefits and services
  • Reviewing disability policy and assessment systems
  • Strengthening the effectiveness of supplementary pension savings
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Reforming the assessment of disability

The Commission has supported Belgium, Greece, Latvia and Lithuania in improving disability assessment methodologies and procedures to contribute to a more holistic assessment of disability that takes better account of functional capacity and individual circumstances.

Migration

Many Member States are facing demographic pressure due to ageing and emigration, resulting in labour and skills shortages. Reforming labour migration policies, tackling the brain-drain challenge and improving integration measures for migrants and refugees are increasingly relevant. The Commission helps Member States to design, evaluate and implement reforms based on solid evidence and to communicate on them effectively. Tailor-made support is offered in coordination with actors at local level where needed, bringing in ideas that have been tested elsewhere.

EXAMPLES OF SUPPORT AREAS

  • Asylum
  • Data and information management in the field of asylum, migration, integration and border management
  • Integration of migrants and refugees
  • Labour migration and intra-EU mobility
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Design migration policies to address labour and skills shortages

The Commission has provided technical support to Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia to address challenges related to the shortage of adequately skilled workers in specific sectors of the economy and become more attractive to international talent.

Contact details

Head of Unit Labour market, education, health and social services

RALUCA PAINTER

Further details on the work

REFORM-B4atec [dot] europa [dot] eu (REFORM-B4[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Head of Unit Horizontal policies and migration

IOANNIS HADJIYIANNIS

Further details on the work

REFORM-01atec [dot] europa [dot] eu (REFORM-01[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Main contact point for applying for the Technical Support Instrument

REFORM-TSIatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (REFORM-TSI[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

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