Statistics and research results show that in recent decades, before the coronavirus pandemic, the EU's labour market witnessed an increase in female employment rates. Women's employment seems to have been more resilient than men's to the economic and financial crisis in 2008. The coronavirus crisis, however, has had a harsher impact on women than on men when it comes to the labour market.

EPRS policy podcast - Recent trends in female employment

Fourteen percent of the EU’s workforce is self-employed and the coronavirus has hit them especially hard. Here is how the EU has helped.

This is what Europe does for self-employed people during the coronavirus crisis

The 2008 crisis continues to have an impact. It is one of the reasons why many young people are likely to experience difficulties in finding a job and becoming independent. Here are three things that Europe does to help them.

This is what Europe does for young people not in education, employment or training

The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels on 10 July 2019, following the appointment of their members in the plenary sitting of 3-4 July. During the meetings, each committee and subcommittee will elect its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees will then start holding their regular meetings during the week of 22 July.

EMPL - Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

The European Parliamentary Week (EPW) brings together Parliamentarians from all over the European Union to discuss economic, budgetary and social matters.

The European Parliamentary Week has been held since 2015. In line with the established practice, the European Parliamentary Week consists of the European Semester Conference and the Interparliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the European Union. This event also includes three interparliamentary committee meetings organised by the European Parliament’s Committees on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and on Budgets (BUDG).

European Parliamentary Week

Since the onset of the economic crisis, the EP has strongly supported the creation of a Youth Guarantee scheme, which was finally adopted in April 2013 as the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI).

The Youth Guarantee is a commitment by all Member States to ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship, traineeship, within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.

The Youth Guarantee has become a reality across the EU and has helped to improve the lives of millions of young Europeans.

Youth Employment

Valdis Dombrovskis, born on 5 August 1971 in Riga, is a Latvian politician. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2009. Dombrovskis is Executive Vice-President-Commissioner designate for&nbsp;An Economy that Works for People

After the hearing by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President-designate

Helena Dalli, born on 29 September 1962, is a Maltese politician.

After the hearing by the Committees on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Helena DALLI, Commissioner-designate, Equality

Nicolas Schmit, born on 10 December 1953 in Differdange, is a Luxembourgish politician. He has been serving as Member of the European Parliament since 2019.

After the hearing by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) of the European Parliament, the committee prepares an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.

Hearing of Nicolas SCHMIT, Commissioner-designate, Jobs

Parliament wants all workers to benefit from minimum rights on working conditions, including those on non-traditional contracts.

On 16th April 2019 MEPs approved minimum rights for workers with on-demand, voucher-based or platform jobs, like with Uber or Deliveroo. The new rules include: minimum rights agreed for workers in casual or short-term employment; working conditions that must be made clear to workers on their first day on the job, and probationary periods that may not be longer than six months.

How is the EU fighting youth unemployment? With more than 26 million Europeans out of work, unemployment is one of the biggest issues that Europe is facing today.

#EUelections2019 - Employment

Roxana Mînzatu was Romanian Minister for European Funds in 2019. From January 2022 until July 2024, she served as Secretary of State coordinating the Department for Integrated Evaluation and Monitoring of Public Funded Programs. She is Member of the European Parliament since July 2024 but now, she is Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President designate, People, Skills and Preparedness

Dan Jørgensen was Member of the EP (2004-2013), Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (2013-2015), Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities (2019-2022) and Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy since 2022. He is now European Commissioner-designate for Energy and Housing, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Dan JØRGENSEN, Commissioner-designate, Energy and Housing

EMPL - Public hearing on ' Volunteers in emergency services and their legal challenges: cases of cross-border firefighters '

Among the EU measures to combat youth unemployment is the Youth Guarantee, a commitment by EU Member States to ensure all young people under the age of 30 receive a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of unemployment or leaving formal education. In the last two decades however, the unemployment rate of young Europeans has consistently been around twice as high as the general unemployment rate. Young people today are facing an increasingly insecure job market. How can we do better? What steps can be taken to improve employment quality and increase job stability for young people? How do the Traineeship Directive, the Youth Guarantee and other initiatives aim to tackle these issues? How can we support diversity, inclusiveness and accessibility in the youth labour market?

EYE2025 - Unlocking opportunities: pathways to fair employment

Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Joint meeting EMPL-IMCO Joint committee procedure (Rule 59)

EMPL

IMCO

Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Ordinary meeting joint meeting with EMPL

FEMM

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Ordinary meeting

Joint EMPL-CULT meeting- EoV with Minzatu

CULT

Inter-parliamentary Committee Meeting "Affordable Housing for All – Policy Approaches and Best Practice Cases in the Member States"

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Extraordinary meeting

Committee on Regional Development HEARING REGI -EMPL

REGI

Joint EMPL-JURI Hearing on the protection and promotion of the rights of children placed in alternative care

JURI

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs with MEP EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY WEEK 2025 - Interparliamentary Committee Meetings

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Joint meeting Joint ECON-EMPL Meeting: Economic Dialogue on the European Semester

ECON

EMPL - Exchange of views with the Commission on the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities concluding observations on the EU

EMPL Exchange of view with Teresa Ribera Commissioner for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition)

EMPL HOUS Interparliamentary Committee Meeting -  Affordable Housing for al : Policy Approaches and Best Practice Cases in the Member States – sharing success stories and considering new strategies

EMPL JURI joint hearing on the protection and promotion of rights of children placed in alternative care

EMPL - Exchange of Views on the situation of young carers in Europe

EMPL - Exchange of view with Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management

EMPL - Exchange of views with the Executive Directors of the Agencies under the EMPL remit: Cedefop, Eurofound, EU-OSHA, ETF and ELA

EP Plenary session - Social and employment aspects of restructuring processes: the need to protect jobs and workers’ rights

EMPL - Exchange of view with Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness

European Parliamentary Week 2025 - EMPL Interparliamentary Committee Meeting

EMPL - Opening trilogue on Amending Directive 2009/38/EC as regards the establishment and functioning of European Works Councils and the effective enforcement of transnational information and consultation rights

ECON EMPL - Economic Dialogue on the European Semester 2025

EMPL - Presentation of the Priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council

EMPL - Social dimension of the 'Much more than a market' report - Exchange of views with Enrico Letta

EMPL Meeting - Gender Equality Week: Ensuring gender equality in the labour market: addressing the gender pay gap and the ‘sticky floor’

EMPL - Bilateral meeting with the Polish Presidency of the Council

FEMM - Public hearing on ' Addressing the challenges faced by women with disabilities in healthcare, employment, societal participation '

MEPs vote on Parliament’s calendar of part-sessions - 2026; ZOVKO INTA EU-Norway Agreement: modification of concessions on all the tariff-rate quotas included in EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union; (A10-0013/2025) MINCHEV LIBE Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data; (A10-0022/2025) NAVARRETE ROJAS ECON; (A10-0023/2025) ABADÍA JOVER EMPL; MRs - Continuing the unwavering EU support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s war of aggression (Debate: 11/02/2025); MRs - White paper on the future of European defence; MRs - The need for EU support towards a just transition and reconstruction in Syria

Votes

BALLARÍN CEREZA IMCO Discontinuation of the European ODR Platform SCHNEIDER ENVI Deforestation Regulation: provisions relating to the date of application (Vote: 14/11/2024) VRECIONOVÁ AGRI Specific measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for Member States affected by natural disasters VRECIONOVÁ AGRI Forest reproductive material of the ‘tested’ category NEMEC BUDG Mobilisation of the European Globalisation AdjustmentFund: application EGF/2024/002 BE/Limburg machinery and paper - Belgium BUŁA, OMARJEE EMPL/REGI

Voting Session

&lt;p>From 4th to 12th November 2024, the European Parliament held the Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate, in Brussels. For 3 hours, MEPs quizzed the candidates for the College of Commissioners on their priorities ahead of the new mandate given by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This clip highlights the best pictures from the 26 confirmation hearings.&lt;/p>

Highlights of the hearings of the Commissioners-designate (2024)

Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA, DE) and Li ANDERSSON (The Left, FL), Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) hold a press point after the Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press Point by Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA, DE) and Li ANDERSSON (The Left, FL), Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)

Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and Culture and Education (CULT). Closing statement by Commissioner-designate and Committees Chairs. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery. .

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness: Closing statement by Commissioner-designate and Committees Chairs

Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and Culture and Education (CULT). Questions and answers.

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness: Questions / Answers (part 5 - Political groups in reverse order)

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness: Questions / Answers (part 4 - Invited committees)

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness: Questions / Answers (part 3)

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness: Questions / Answers (part 2)

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness: Questions / Answers (part 1 - Political groups coordinators)

Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and Culture and Education (CULT). Opening statement by the Executive Vice-President-deisgnate. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery. .

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness: Opening statement by the Executive Vice-President-deisgnate

Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and Culture and Education (CULT). Ambiance of the arrivals and opening statements by Li ANDERSSON (The Left, FI), EMPL Committee Chair and Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA, DE), CULT Committee Chair .

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness: arrivals and opening statements by Li ANDERSSON (The Left, FI) and Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA)

Ambience shots of the Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness. The hearing is organised by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and by the Committee on Culture and Education.

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness: atmosphere shots

Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament. Committee on International Trade (INTA), Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), Committee on Budgets (BUDG), and Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) participate as joint committees. At the end of the confirmation hearing, Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ makes a closing statement followed by the one from the Committee Chair. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Confirmation hearing of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy: closing statement by Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ and Committee Chair

Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament. Committee on International Trade (INTA), Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), Committee on Budgets (BUDG), and Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ answers questions by committee members.

Confirmation hearing of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy: questions / answers (part 5)

Confirmation hearing of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy: questions / answers (part 4)

Confirmation hearing of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy: questions / answers (part 3)

Confirmation hearing of Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy: questions / answers (part 2)

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