The European Commission adopted its work programme for 2016. Under the motto “no time for business as usual”, the institution lead by Jean-Claude Juncker decided to give priority to those measures that could have a direct impact on jobs and growth. Among all the initiatives, Ipse has focused on those related to the digital single market and the deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the internal market.

The work programme of the European Commission for 2016 has been adopted during the college of the commissioners meeting in Strasbourg on 27 October. The work programme reflects the watchword “better regulation”, which represents the will of the European institutions to produce less legislation but with a better quality. As a matter of fact, the work programme for 2016 comprises a review of the existing legislation in a certain number of fields and the repeal of the regulations that are no longer relevant. The Commission has chosen a number of proposals that will have the priority, including the digital single market and the deepening of the EMU and the internal market.

Digital single market. In May 2015 the Commission presented its strategy for a digital single market, whose goal is the development of the European markets and the creation of jobs. In 2016, the Commission will present all the necessary proposals in order to achieve the strategy’s goals in order to implement it by the end of this mandate (2019). According to the figures used by the Commission, a digital single market could generate an estimated 250 billion euros additional growth in Europe by 2019 and therefore foster youth employment and the development of a knowledge-based society.

Economic and Monetary Union. In the framework of the deepening of the EMU and of the European Semester 2016, the Commission plans to strengthen the convergence process through the development of a European pillar of social rights. As such, the Commission will work on two complementary axes: on the one hand, the modernization of social policy legislations, especially with regard to the new models of work; on the other hand, the determination of social criteria based on the best practices among Member States, aiming at a greater convergence in the domains of labour market, skills and social protection. These actions will be undertaken by involving European and national institutions, as well as social partners.

Internal market. The Commission considers the Single market as “Europe’s greatest asset”. In order to unleash its full potential, the Commission will present in 2016 a range of measures aiming at helping the growth of start-ups and new business models emerging from the collaborative economy. With regard to the labour mobility, the Commission highlights the proposals for the improvement of EURES, the European job mobility portal. Before the end of 2015, the Commission will present legislative measures to tackle practices leading to social dumping and in particular a revision of the Posting of Workers Directive. These initiatives will lead to a better enforcement and coordination of social security systems. Furthermore, in order to foster the participation of women in the labour market, the Commission will pursuit its work on gender equality and on work-life balance. The Women on Boards Directive should be adopted in 2016.

For more information: European Commission work programme 2016