Cyprus has set out its priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the EU in the area of employment, focusing on fair, inclusive work as the foundation of social justice, Minister of Labour and Social Security Marinos Mousiouttas said on Thursday.
Speaking at the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL), Mousiouttas said the priorities reflect the real concerns of European citizens amid significant changes in the labour market, including digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the green transition, and demographic shifts.
AI in work
“Europe’s response cannot be fear or inaction, but must be a fair and methodical adaptation,” he said, adding that decent wages, safe working conditions and equal opportunities for all are central to fair employment.
The minister said fair employment will be the focus of the informal Council of Ministers of Employment and Social Policy, to be held in Cyprus in February, with participation from the International Labour Organization and social partners. He stressed that concrete measures must be taken at both national and EU levels to ensure that fair employment becomes a reality for all workers.
Mousiouttas also highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence on work, stating that technology is not neutral and must be regulated to benefit employees. He said the Presidency will seek opinions from the European Economic and Social Committee on tools to improve work quality, including AI, and the role of social dialogue and collective bargaining.
Health and safety
Other priorities include the revision of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund regulation, the protection of young people in internships, and fair labour mobility, including the update of Regulation 883 on social security coordination. A high-level conference of the European Labour Authority will be held on 11 March to discuss the EU’s Fair Mobility Package.
Health and safety at work is also a priority. Mousiouttas said Cyprus supports the sixth revision of the EU Directive on Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, and Reproductive Toxic Substances, balancing worker protection with business sustainability.
Concluding his address, Mousiouttas emphasised that the Cyprus Presidency aims to respond to citizens’ concerns through consistent policies developed in social dialogue, with the goal of improving the lives of Europeans in the area of employment.