5 June 2026
SGI Europe’s Social Protection Taskforce met this week in Munich at the kind invitation of our member AKA to discuss key developments affecting social protection and occupational pensions across Europe.
A central focus of the meeting was the European Commission’s pensions package, including the proposed revision of the IORP II Directive and the PEPP Regulation. Participants exchanged views on the implications of these initiatives for occupational pension arrangements, the role of social partners, and the need to preserve proportionality and respect for the diversity of national systems.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review developments related to the Financial Data Access (FIDA) proposal and to exchange updates on ongoing reforms and policy debates in Member States. These discussions highlighted the growing importance of social protection issues in the context of demographic change, labour market developments and long-term investment needs.
Regular exchanges between SGI Europe members remain essential to ensure that European discussions are informed by practical experience and the realities faced by providers of services of general interest across different national contexts.
We would like to warmly thank AKA for hosting the meeting and facilitating a constructive and insightful exchange.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On 3-4 June, SGI Europe participated in the capacity-building seminar “Reinforcing the European Social Dialogue and Industrial Relations” in Berlin, Germany. Organised by the European social partners, ETUC, BusinessEurope, SGI Europe and SMEunited, the seminar brought together representatives of employers and trade unions from Germany, Finland, Lithuania and Malta to exchange views on social dialogue and industrial relations at national and European level.
The seminar is a part of the European social partners’ ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of national social partner organisations and to promote effective social dialogue across Europe. Participants discussed the latest developments in European social dialogue, including recent outcomes and ongoing initiatives, as well as the implementation and follow-up of its instruments.
Through separate and joint sessions, participants exchanged experiences on the functioning of national social dialogue structures, collective bargaining systems and capacity-building needs. Discussions also explored how social partners can further strengthen their role in policymaking and contribute to addressing labour market challenges at both the national and European levels.
These exchanges foster mutual learning and a better understanding of the different industrial relations systems across Europe, while supporting strong, representative and autonomous social partner organisations.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On 3 June, the European Commission today published its Tech Sovereignty Package, featuring two legislative proposals, the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) and the Chips Act 2.0, as well as a Strategic Roadmap on Digitalisation and AI in the Energy Sector, and the Energy performance of data centres.
As a central part of the Commission's AI Continent Action Plan, CADA aims to triple data centre capacity in Europe over the next five to seven years and boost adoption via the Apply AI strategy. It aims to balance AI ambitions with climate commitments and introduces a single EU-wide cloud and AI sovereignty assessment framework.
SGI Europe welcomes the package but stresses that true sovereignty must be anchored in structural resilience and European values. For SGI providers, structural resilience must be embedded into EU policy from the outset through the 'Preparedness by Design' principle to ensure that critical infrastructure can withstand multi-dimensional disruptions while meeting emerging demand. For this, the Tech Sovereignty must fully respect the provisions of the Water Framework Directive and the EU Water Resilience Strategy. To achieve genuine sustainability across energy and water ecosystems, long-term planning and sustainable resource management must be explicitly integrated. To foster local innovation against global hyperscalers, SGI Europe underscores the need for a stable framework that simplifies procedures, protects small municipal data centres from disproportionate costs, and incentivises a sovereign European cloud through strategic public procurement.
The next legislative steps will see these proposals negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union before final adoption. Meanwhile, the Commission will launch a call for AI Gigafactories in July and consult with stakeholders on establishing a European equity capacity to finance these tech-sovereignty ambitions. SGI Europe’s Sustainability Board will actively follow the package.
Contact: Henriette Gleau
On 3 June 2026, the European Commission published the European Semester Spring Package, setting out its assessment of Member States’ economic, employment and social policies and proposing the 2026 Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs). Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, competitiveness pressures and demographic change, the Commission positions the Semester as a key tool to align reforms and investments with the EU’s strategic priorities.
The Package reflects many of the priorities that have become increasingly prominent in EU policymaking over the last year. Alongside competitiveness, innovation and economic security, the Commission places particular emphasis on skills development, quality jobs, social fairness, housing affordability, territorial cohesion and access to essential services. The Semester also highlights the importance of reducing administrative burdens, improving the business environment and accelerating the digital and green transitions.
Of particular interest for SGI Europe members, the Commission stresses the need to strengthen labour market participation, address labour and skills shortages, invest in education and training, and improve access to healthcare, long-term care and other essential services. The Spring Package also underlines the role of social dialogue and collective bargaining in addressing labour market challenges and supporting economic and social resilience. The Commission further refers to the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act and Quality Jobs Roadmap as part of its broader approach to labour market policy.
The Package also contains a stronger territorial dimension than in previous years. The Commission calls for improved access to services and infrastructure across regions, highlights the challenges faced by rural, remote and depopulating areas, and announces future work to ensure that Europeans can continue to live and work in the regions they call home. This focus resonates with ongoing discussions on territorial cohesion and the concept of the “Freedom to Stay”, which has gained increasing attention in the European policy debate.
Member States will now discuss the Country-Specific Recommendations in the Council before their formal adoption later this year. As in previous cycles, they are expected to play an important role in shaping national reform agendas and influencing future EU policy initiatives across employment, social affairs, competitiveness and public services.
Contact: Guillaume Afellat
On 2 June, the EP IMCO Committee held exchanges with Executive Vice-Presidents Stéphane Séjourné and Teresa Ribera, focusing on the implementation of the Single Market Strategy and of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), respectively.
One year after the adoption of the 2025 Single Market Strategy, EVP Séjourné confirmed that its implementation is progressing quickly, with a broad package of legislative and non-legislative initiatives underway. These include a proposed 28th regime for corporate rules, as well as upcoming legislation on public procurement, product regulation and the circular economy, all aimed at deepening Single Market integration. He also emphasised that the Commission is following a structured approach to addressing the “Terrible Ten” barriers that were identified as priorities.
Séjourné underlined that enforcement will be strengthened through more systematic infringement procedures, stronger coordination with national authorities, and enhanced preventive tools, including a heat map of barriers, and better use of the Single Market Enforcement Task Force. He stressed that many barriers require both EU-level and national action, calling for greater ownership by Member States.
In the digital domain, EVP Ribera noted that the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is already delivering tangible benefits, including improved interoperability and easier switching between digital ecosystems and tools. She stressed that enforcement must remain evidence-based, proportionate and timely, while reaffirming that all companies operating in the EU should be subject to the same rules. She also pointed to ongoing work in cloud and AI markets, potential gatekeeper designations, the importance of energy sovereignty for achieving tech sovereignty, and the need for efficient energy use in data infrastructures.
Contact:Raquel Carro-Andollo
Join us, stay informed
Subscribe to have all the latest news and developments delivered straight to your inbox.