2 From the European Pillar of Social Rights to a Social Action Plan

2

FROM THE EUROPEAN PILLAR OF SOCIAL RIGHTS TO A SOCIAL ACTION PLAN

“The European Union must better serve its people and guarantee that no one is left behind.”1 That was the first sentence of our manifesto for the 2019 European elections, in which we clearly stated our willingness to change the EU. We want to build a fairer Europe, leaving behind the neoliberal and conservative models of the past, and focusing on quality jobs, a sustainable future, fairness, social security and an economic model which addresses inequality and the cost of living and that reflects the Union’s ambition to progress towards the fulfilment of the UN’s SDGs. That is why we put forward a new Social Contract for Europe as our main objective during the 2019 European elections. Amongst others, this new Social Contract must build on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the European Pillar of Social Rights. Indeed, by embracing the SDGs and the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU will be able to better meet the challenges it currently faces, be it rising inequalities, the environmental and digital transition or demographic change. It will be able to better serve its people and show more consistency in its pursuit of social progress, fairness, upward convergence and the wellbeing of all its citizens. This implies that the SDGs and the Pillar’s principle must be fully implemented. For the latter, the PES proposes the adoption of a fully-fledged Social Action Plan.