Putting flexicurity at the heart of the EU employment and social agenda

To achieve an employment-rich recovery, the European Commission should swiftly come up with a renewed EU employment and social policy approach combining security and flexibility (the ‘flexicurity’ concept). This was the key message of BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer at a meeting with the Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Marianne Thyssen on 21 September. As regards the "pillar of social rights" announced by President Juncker in his State of the Union speech, the Commission should make sure that any new EU social legislative initiative is fully in line with the priority to make Europe more competitive. The Commission should take account of the already comprehensive body of around 70 social directives that is in place and ensure a fully consistent approach with its better regulation agenda.