This Week in Social Affairs — Brussels (#16, 2026)
Council, Parliament confirm revision to social security rules; EGF broadened to cover workers at risk; Parliament debates EU action on cyberbullying; Implementing rules for forced labour ban adopted.
April 26, 2026 to May 02, 2026
Council, Parliament confirm revision to social security rules; EGF broadened to cover workers at risk; Parliament debates EU action on cyberbullying; Implementing rules for forced labour ban adopted.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🏛️ European Parliament
• 📝 EP Motions & Questions
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE): On May 04, the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Date of next meetings; Establishing the Justice programme for the period 2028-2034 and repealing Regulation (EU) 2021/693.
- Committee on Development (DEVE): On May 05, the European Parliament's Committee on Development (DEVE) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Date of next meetings; Establishing Global Europe.
- Committee on Development (DEVE): On May 05, the European Parliament's Committee on Development (DEVE) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; Amending Decision (EU) 2021/1764 on the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories with the European Union including relations between the European Union on the one hand, and Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark on the other; Chair’s announcements.
- Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM): On May 05, the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair's annoucements; Coordinators’ meeting; Date of next meetings: 3-4/6/2026.
- Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI): On May 06, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; Chair’s announcements; Chair’s announcements concerning coordinators’ decisions.
- Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL): On May 06, the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; Chair’s announcements; Coordination of social security systems.
- Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE): On May 06, the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Age Verification, Assurance, and Estimation Techniques for the Protection of Minors Online; Amending Regulations (EU) 2016/679, (EU) 2016/1036, (EU) 2016/1037, (EU) 2017/1129, (EU) 2023/1542 and (EU) 2024/573 as regards the extension of certain mitigating measures available for small and medium sized enterprises to small mid-cap enterprises and further simplification measures; Chair’s announcements.
- Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI): On May 07, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; Chair’s announcements; Chair’s announcements concerning coordinators’ decisions.
- Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE): On May 07, the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Age Verification, Assurance, and Estimation Techniques for the Protection of Minors Online; Amending Regulations (EU) 2016/679, (EU) 2016/1036, (EU) 2016/1037, (EU) 2017/1129, (EU) 2023/1542 and (EU) 2024/573 as regards the extension of certain mitigating measures available for small and medium sized enterprises to small mid-cap enterprises and further simplification measures; Chair’s announcements.
European Commission
Commission welcomes agreement on revision of social security coordination rules
The European Commission welcomed the approval by EU Member States of the revision to the EU social security coordination rules, a framework governed by Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 since 2010. The revision, formally agreed between the Council Presidency and the European Parliament, introduces clearer rules on long-term care benefits, family benefits, and unemployment benefit coordination. It also clarifies equal treatment provisions and introduces a new definition of fraud for social security coordination, with stricter requirements for workers posted abroad. Enhanced administrative cooperation and digital information exchanges are included. The agreement follows a 2016 Commission proposal to update the rules in response to increased labour mobility.
Commission proposes €2 million EGF support for over 800 dismissed workers in Belgium
The European Commission proposed to mobilise €2 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) to support 803 employees dismissed following the bankruptcy of Soliver, a Belgian car glass manufacturer. The EGF will fund career counselling, training, and job search assistance, complementing national employment services. The proposal, based on EGF regulation 2021-27, now awaits approval from the European Parliament and Council. In February 2026, a political agreement was reached to broaden EGF eligibility to workers at imminent risk of redundancy, and a Skills Guarantee pilot for car industry workers was launched in November 2025.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Commission Implementing Regulation details information system for forced labour ban
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/903, published on 27 April 2026, specifies the details and functionalities of the forced labour module of the Information and Communication System for Market Surveillance (ICSMS). The Regulation implements provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/3015, establishing a system for information exchange among the Commission, Member States, and customs authorities regarding products made with forced labour. The Regulation prescribes data retention, user access, and procedures for communicating enforcement actions and decisions. It enters into force twenty days after publication.
European Parliament
Parliament approves broader EGF support for workers at risk of job loss
The European Parliament approved a revision of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), expanding its scope to support workers at risk of redundancy, not only those already dismissed. The updated rules, agreed with the Council, allow companies to request EGF support for employees facing imminent layoffs, with a minimum of 40% of the annual EGF reserved for displaced workers or self-employed persons. The new rules are set to apply until end of 2027, pending formal Council adoption.
EP Motions & Questions
Joint motion: Targeted EU action against cyberbullying and online harassment
A joint motion for a resolution tabled by the PPE, S&D, and Renew Groups addresses the need for targeted criminal provisions and platforms' responsibility to tackle cyberbullying and online harassment. The motion, scheduled for plenary vote, calls for coordinated EU action, improved reporting mechanisms, and assessment of a harmonised definition of cyberbullying. It references the Commission's 2026 Action Plan against Cyberbullying and urges enforcement of the Digital Services Act and the Victims' Rights Directive.
EP Committee Work
EMPL draft opinion on proposal to strengthen occupational retirement framework
On 29 April 2026, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) published a draft opinion regarding the proposal to amend Directives (EU) 2016/2341 and 2016/97, aiming to enhance the framework for occupational retirement provision. Rapporteur Estelle Ceulemans addresses the alignment of occupational pension schemes and insurance distribution with updated requirements for transparency, consumer protection, and cross-border worker mobility.
What We're Reading This Week
- 13.2 National reforms in school education: Sweeping national reforms aim to modernize school curricula, improve teacher training, and enhance student assessment standards across the country.
- Call document for the call "Call for proposals to support the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights": Organizations are invited to apply for funding to advance projects that strengthen the implementation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
- Call document for the call "Town Twinning": European Commission invites municipalities to apply for funding to support partnerships and exchanges between twinned towns.
- EP Plenary SessionWomen’s entrepreneurship in rural and island areas and outermost regions: MEPs discuss strategies to boost women's entrepreneurship, focusing on unique challenges in rural, island, and outermost regions.
- EESC high-level debate on supplementary pensions for a Savings and Investments Union: EU social and financial leaders discuss aligning supplementary pension systems to advance a unified Savings and Investments Union.
