An informal meeting of the ministers of the European Union responsible for employment and social affairs will take place on 17 and 18 April at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia. The two-day meeting will discuss the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and how they can be applied in order to improve workforce skills and qualifications and ensure equal opportunities and access to the labour market.
During the first day, the ministers will discuss the EU Council Recommendation on improving qualifications and creating new employment opportunities for older people. The programme will also focus on active labour market policies regarding young people and the long-term unemployed.
The delegates will visit the Seventh European Social Entrepreneurship Forum as part of the event.
Bulgaria’s good practices and achievements in implementing the EU Youth Guarantee will be presented during the second day of the event. The employment and social affairs ministers will share experience on how young people and the long-term unemployed can overcome challenges to professional realisation. The participants will also discuss the contribution of the social partners to the implementation of the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Biser Petkov, Minister of Labour and Social Policy of Bulgaria, doorstep
Marianne Thyssen, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills, and Labour Mobility, doorstep
Arrival, doorstep, handshake
Roundtable and opening
Family photo
Press conference
Highlights