Porto Social Summit, 7 May 2021

Summary:

National leaders of the European Union, EU institutions, social partners and representatives of civil society gathered in Porto (Portugal) on 7 May 2021 to reaffirm their commitment to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR).

Further information:

The European Union proclaimed the EPSR in November 2017. The pillar sets out 20 key guiding principles for a strong, fair and inclusive Social Europe. In March 2021, the European Commission unveiled an Action Plan for the implementation of the EPSR.

This high-level conference discussed how to set the European social policy agenda for the following decade in an inclusive manner. The focus was on three main areas: work and employment, skills and innovation, welfare and social protection. At the end of the conference, all participants co-signed the Porto Social Commitment. The outcome of this conference also informed the informal European Council meeting held alongside it.

Official

Portuguese Council Presidency: Porto Social Summit https://www.2021portugal.eu/en/porto-social-summit/summit/

Portuguese Council Presidency: Porto Social Summit: Porto Social Commitment https://www.2021portugal.eu/en/porto-social-summit/porto-social-commitment/

Conseil Européen: Intervention du Président Charles Michel lors de la séance de clôture du Sommet social de Porto (7 mai 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/05/07/speech-by-president-charles-michel-at-the-closing-ceremony-of-the-porto-social-summit/

European Commission: Press Release, 07/05/2021: Porto Social Summit: all partners commit to 2030 social targets https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_2301

European Commission: Speech by President von der Leyen at the Porto Social Summit (7 May 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_2342

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Sassoli and Prime Minister Costa at the Porto Social Summit (7 May 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_2350

European Commission: Speech by Commissioner Schmit at the Porto Social Summit (7 May 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_2352

Renew Europe Group: Newsroom, 07/05/2021: Europe's post-Covid recovery must provide opportunities for all, urges Renew Europe at the Social Summit in Porto https://reneweuropegroup.eu/en/news/1896-europe-s-post-covid-recovery-must-provide-opportunities-for-all-urges-renew-europe-at-the-social-summit-in-porto/

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News

Politico, 22/04/2021: Ahead of EU summit, 11 countries tell Brussels to back off on social policy https://www.politico.eu/article/porto-summit-11-eu-countries-national-authority/

Politico, 06/05/2021: As pandemic eases, EU leaders get social in Porto https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-summit-porto-social-welfare-2/

RFI News, 07/05/2021: EU summit pushes social issues, but divisions linger https://www.rfi.fr/en/eu-summit-pushes-social-issues-but-divisions-linger

Politico, 07/05/2021: Social distancing at the social summit https://www.politico.eu/article/social-distancing-porto-social-summit-eu-coronavirus-pandemic/

Reuters, 07/05/2021: Poland, Hungary block "gender equality" from EU social summit https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-hungary-push-against-gender-equality-eu-social-summit-2021-05-07/

Deutsche Welle, 07/05/2021: EU leaders to talk over social strategy in Porto summit https://p.dw.com/p/3t551

France24, 07/05/2021: EU leaders to discuss social issues, Covid-19 vaccine patents at Porto summit https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210507-eu-leaders-to-discuss-social-issues-covid-19-vaccine-patents-at-porto-summit

Euronews, 07/05/2021: EU leaders to push for social safeguards in two-day summit in Porto https://www.euronews.com/2021/05/07/eu-leaders-to-focus-on-job-creation-poverty-and-inequality-in-two-day-summit-in-porto

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Commentary and Analysis

Jacques Delors Institute: Blog, 03/05/2021: The Porto Social Summit: Turning Principles into Actions https://institutdelors.eu/en/publications/sommet-social-de-porto-passer-des-principes-a-laction/

CESI: Porto Social Summit: Demands of independent trade unions for a successful implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (6 May 2021) https://www.cesi.org/posts/featured/porto-social-summit-demands-of-independent-trade-unions-for-a-successful-implementation-of-the-european-pillar-of-social-rights/

Caritas Europa: Porto summit must lead to concrete action - Joint Statement by Social Services Europe (7 May 2021) https://www.caritas.eu/porto-summit-must-lead-to-concrete-action/

Social Europe, 07/05/2021: The Social Summit — and beyond https://www.socialeurope.eu/the-social-summit-and-beyond

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ESO Records

Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth, 17 November 2017 https://www.europeansources.info/record/social-summit-for-fair-jobs-and-growth-17-november-2017/

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