Looking beyond 2015 for decent work and in the global fight against poverty

The European Commission is fully committed to the process of adopting a post-2015 development agenda, which is currently driven by the United Nations to set the main goals and targets for the next 15 years.

Decent work is the best way to achieve sustainable development and poverty eradication in both North and South, and the Commission remains engaged in improving working and living conditions in the EU and throughout the world.

As part of the final process towards the adoption of a post-2015 framework, scheduled in September, the Commission advocates the recognition of the strong contribution of employment and adequate social protection to sustainable development. Such was the main message conveyed by Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, during her recent participation at the UN Economic and Social Council Integration Segment.

In her intervention, Commissioner Thyssen stressed the importance of employment, gender equality, entrepreneurship, skills development, effective social protection, social dialogue and fundamental rights at work in the global agenda for the next 15 years. She highlighted that the Juncker Commission's priorities go very much in line with this, namely to boost growth and jobs through investment, wisely applied fiscal consolidation and structural reforms, as well as giving a new impetus to social dialogue.

During her first mission outside the EU, Commissioner Thyssen also addressed the Group of Friends on Decent work for Sustainable Development, calling for stronger international partnerships to support decent job creation, improve working conditions, including in global supply chains, and strengthen social protection floors. Looking ahead to the adoption of the post-2015 agenda, she also underlined the importance of monitoring its implementation. The European Semester process, she added, can be an inspiring example for economic, employment and social governance.