19 September 2025
On 18–19 September, SGI Europe, represented by Valeria Ronzitti, General Secretary, and Duarte Veiga da Cunha, President of SGI Portugal, actively contributed to the 2025 Porto Social Forum, organised by the Portuguese Government with the support of the European Commission. This year’s forum focused on “Quality Jobs in a Competitive Social Europe,” bringing together ministers, EU leaders and social partners to discuss how to attract and retain talent and ensure fair labour mobility.
Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, played an active role throughout the event. During the Ministerial Lunch Debate on Work-Life Balance and Quality Jobs, she stressed that work-life balance is essential for participation and service delivery, calling for full implementation of the Work-Life Balance Directive, better data on leave uptake, and increased investment in childcare to raise participation and retention. She also addressed the panel on the proposed fourth 2030 target on job quality, welcoming the political debate while underlining that any new target must be evidence-based, measurable and co-owned by those who will implement it, leaving space for national and sectoral solutions. In the session on Free and Fair Labour Mobility, she insisted that mobility must remain a positive choice, supported by strong local services, better planning and faster recognition of qualifications.
On the margins of the Forum, Valeria Ronzitti held bilateral meetings with EVP Roxana Minzatu and with the Portuguese Minister of Labour, Rosário Palma Ramalho, to discuss the Quality Jobs Roadmap, the future Commission Work Programme, and the importance of aligning EU and social partner initiatives in the months ahead.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
SGI Europe participated in the European Commission’s Implementation Dialogue on fair labour mobility, held on 16 September at the Berlaymont. The event, opened by Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu and Director General Mario Nava, gathered Member State representatives and social partners at cross-sectoral and sectoral levels to exchange views on the implementation, simplification and enforcement of EU rules on free movement of workers, posting of workers and the coordination of social security systems.
In its intervention, SGI Europe underlined the urgent need to conclude the revision of Regulation 883/2004, which has remained blocked for several years despite most provisions being agreed upon. SGI Europe emphasised that prior notification rules must be workable and called for an exemption for very short business trips, accompanied by a system where electronic notifications are immediately acknowledged and recognised as proof of compliance. SGI Europe welcomed the rollout of the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS) and the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI), emphasising that these systems must replace paper procedures, ensure once-only data use and provide a single, predictable process for employers across all Member States.
SGI Europe also contributed to the discussion on the future mandate of the European Labour Authority (ELA), supporting its coordinating and guidance role while cautioning against any expansion of its mandate that could duplicate national competences or create new reporting obligations for enterprises.
SGI Europe is willing to work with the Commission and Member States on a 2026 Labour Mobility Package that delivers faster, simpler and more efficient cross-border procedures.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
From Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 September 2025, the city of Murcia, selected as the Spanish capital of the Social Economy for 2025, hosted the European Social Economy Week.
This event, held under the patronage of the Second Vice-President of the Government and Minister of Labour and Social Economy of Spain, Ms Yolanda Diaz Pérez, began with a meeting of the Intergroup on Social Economy and Services of General Interest on the morning of Tuesday 16 September. An opportunity to discuss fundamental issues shared by Social Economy and Services of General Interest organisations, such as the future Multiannual Financial Framework and other key EU-level files.
The second day allowed Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, to share the views of services of general interest providers on the issue of investment, a central issue for our members, but also for EU lawmakers. The discussion brought together several social economy organisations, as well as representatives from the European Commission's DG EMPL, the OECD, the Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament.
This trip represented an occasion to exchange views once again with representatives of the Fundacion Once, namely Lourdes Marquez de la Callejera, but also with the President of CEPES, Juan Antonio Pedreno Frutos. Finally, in the margins of the event, representatives of SGI Europe also met with representatives of the Spanish government, Yolanda Diaz Perez, Minister of Labour, and Amparo Merino Segovia, Secretary of State for the Social and Solidarity Economy.
Contact: Benoît Cassorla
On 18th September, ministers of the EU Council on Environment met in Brussels to hold a policy debate on a proposal to amend the European Climate Law. The central point of discussion was a binding intermediate climate target for 2040. The proposal from the European Commission recommends a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. This target is intended to provide a predictable pathway for investments and enhance the EU's competitiveness in clean technologies.
A progress report prepared by the Danish presidency guided the discussion, highlighting substantial progress on clarifying proposed flexibilities to better account for national circumstances and address concerns about the competitiveness of European industries. Ministers engaged in a constructive debate, assessing the progress made so far and giving further guidance for the work ahead. The EU institutions and member states are bound to take the necessary measures at the EU and national level to meet the target, taking into account more flexibility among member states. The target is binding at the EU level, with members states bound through existing and future legislative instruments. The debate also covered the future role of international carbon credits and natural carbon sinks.
The ministers also approved a statement of intent on the EU’s post-2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), outlining the EU's intention to submit an NDC with an indicative 2035 target in a range between 66.25% and 72.5% emissions reduction to the UNFCCC before COP30 in November 2025..
The European Commission is seeking to expedite this process and agree on a final updated EU Climate Law during the next EU Environment Council in October.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
SGI Europe has just published its Policy Kit, prepared in light of the programme of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU. It highlights SGI Europe’s ongoing priorities and how, together with its members, SGI Europe intends to contribute to the success of the Danish Presidency in the first half of 2025. The Policy Kit is available here.
Contact: Maxime Staelens
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