DG for EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL AFFAIRS and EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities is part of the 36 Directorates-General (DGs) of the European Commission. The DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities has the task of contributing to the development of a modern, innovative and sustainable European Social Model with more and better jobs in an inclusive society based on equal opportunities.

It plays a key role in promoting positive interaction between economic, social and employment policies, bringing in the main players who can help to achieve the EU strategic objective, viz. to make Europe the world most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy, capable of sustainable economic growth, with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.

In other words, the Directorate-General's job is to play its part in addressing the major challenges and formulating concrete responses with a view to achieving this strategic objective, more especially as regards:

thanks to the European Employment Strategy (application of the open method of co-ordination aimed at bringing national policies closer in this field) and the European Social Fund financial tool (EUR 9 billion per year managed in partnership with the Member States).

by approximating national legislation regulating the labour market, by developing social dialogue at European level, by modernising labour relations, and by making the EU workers more mobile.

by reinforcing the co-operation between Member States, drawing up legislation and running programmes to counter discrimination, promoting fundamental rights and by enhancing the integration of disabled people.

by producing and overseeing legislation, running programmes designed to improve equal opportunities for women and men and ensuring that the gender issue is taken into account in all fields of Community action.

The DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities has a key role on the Social Protection and Social Inclusion Process, which constitutes the EU framework of PICUM’ s project on access to health care for undocumented migrants.

 

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