The Minister of Labor and Social Insurance of the Republic of Cyprus, Marinos Mousioutas, presented on Tuesday in Brussels the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the field of Employment and Social Rights, in the context of the European Forum on Employment and Social Rights.
The speech took place before the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Executive Vice-President of the Commission responsible for Social Rights, Skills, Quality Jobs and Readiness, Roxana Minzatou.
Referring to the modern challenges and changes brought about by digitization, the green transition and the demographics in the labor market, Mr. Moussouttas said that policies to adapt to these phenomena must be developed based on the principles of social justice and fair employment, which are at the core of the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency.
He placed particular emphasis on the role of skills, noting that the training and retraining of workers is crucial for adapting to the demands of a changing labor market. In this context, he referred to reaching an agreement on the new Regulation of the European Globalization Adjustment Fund, which provides for enhanced support for workers and businesses affected by structural changes.
The Minister also noted the progress achieved in the negotiations on the Traineeships Directive, as well as the imminent adoption of the Recommendation on Human Capital at the next Employment and Social Affairs Council (EPSCO), which will take place on 9 March. As he mentioned, these initiatives are part of the overall strategy to strengthen human resources skills and improve the quality of employment.
Referring to the developments in the field of artificial intelligence and algorithmic management in the workplace, Mr. Mousioutas underlined the need to coordinate policies and strengthen social dialogue, with the aim of ensuring the protection of labor rights and upgrading the quality of jobs. In this context, he announced that, at the initiative of the Cyprus Presidency, the Nobel laureate economist, Christoforos Pissarides, will participate in the exchange of views.
The Minister reiterated that the main objective of the Presidency is to ensure that no one is left behind, with particular reference to young people entering the labor market, workers in sectors affected by automation and those employed in non-standard forms of work. He noted that the relevant discussions were also at the center of the Council’s informal session held in Cyprus in February, where specific actions to achieve measurable results in employment policies were examined.
As the third thematic priority of the Cyprus Presidency, the Minister highlighted fair labor mobility. In this context, he underlined the importance of completing the review of Regulation 883 for the coordination of social security systems, pointing out that reaching an agreement will contribute to the modernization of the rules and the strengthening of social protection for workers who exercise the right to free movement.
Mr. Mousioutas also referred to the organization of the High Level Conference of the European Labor Authority in Cyprus (11/03), where for the first time the Package for Fair Labor Mobility and the ways to ensure equal treatment of workers within the EU will be discussed.
In the field of occupational health and safety, the Minister expressed the Presidency’s support for the sixth revision of the Directive on Carcinogenic, Mutagenic and Reproductive Substances, pointing out that the protection of workers’ health is linked to productivity and sustainable development.
At the same time, he presented the Presidency’s initiatives in the field of social policy, with an emphasis on the fight against poverty and social exclusion. He recalled that the first EU anti-poverty strategy is expected to be announced in the second quarter of 2026, while the March 2026 EPSCO Council is scheduled to adopt conclusions on investing in children and tackling child poverty.
The Minister also referred to the importance of strengthening the European Child Guarantee and the promotion of quality and accessible preschool education and care services, as well as the organization, in May 2026, of a high-level conference on the social inclusion of people with disabilities.
Concluding his speech, Mr. Mousouttas underlined that the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency reflect the common European aspirations for resilience, competitiveness and social cohesion, pointing out the need for unity and coordinated action in an environment of increased international uncertainty.
Source: KYPE