This Week in Social Affairs — Brussels (#29, 2026)
Commission backs Greece’s €4.8bn Social Climate Plan; von der Leyen addresses labour mobility, Social Security Pass in Paris speech.
August 24, 2026 to August 30, 2026
Commission backs Greece’s €4.8bn Social Climate Plan; von der Leyen addresses labour mobility, Social Security Pass in Paris speech.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• 🤝 EU Council
European Commission
Commission endorses Greece's €4.8 billion Social Climate Plan for 2026-2032
On 26 August 2026, the European Commission approved Greece's Social Climate Plan, allocating €4.77 billion through 2032 to support vulnerable households, transport users, and micro-enterprises during the clean transition. The plan, developed jointly with Greek authorities, utilises revenues from the Emissions Trading System for buildings and road transport (ETS2) to address social impacts associated with decarbonisation. It targets 460,000 vulnerable households with renovations and new installations, expands social housing, and introduces a temporary heating allowance for up to 800,000 households. Additional measures include support for 300,000 vulnerable transport users and 28,000 micro-enterprises, as well as investments in mobility and accessibility. Greece is eligible to request its first payment upon achievement of initial milestones. The Social Climate Fund, underpinning these efforts, is expected to mobilise at least €86.7 billion across the EU between 2026 and 2032.
President von der Leyen addresses labour mobility and social protection at MEDEF 2026
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke at the annual ‘La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France’ conference on 26 August 2026, outlining the Commission’s agenda for economic competitiveness, social mobility, and sustainable growth. She announced a forthcoming package on fair labour mobility, including reinforcement of the European Labour Authority, the introduction of a European Social Security Pass, and measures to ease recognition of qualifications across Member States. Von der Leyen linked these initiatives to wider efforts on training, reskilling, and labour market inclusivity for SMEs. The speech also addressed regulatory simplification, completion of the single market, and ongoing reviews of labour and social protection frameworks. The President positioned these actions as essential for balanced mobility and fair employment opportunities within the Union.
EU Council
Upcoming Informal Meeting of Agriculture Ministers
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council is scheduled for an informal meeting of agriculture ministers on 6 September 2026.
