Votes · 21 October 2026
Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States
This vote is about the common guidelines for Member States’ employment policies.
Background
Every year the Council adopts guidelines for the Member States’ employment policies, which underpin the country-specific recommendations of the European Semester. Parliament is consulted and gives its opinion on the Commission’s proposal. After a simple rollover in 2025, the 2026 version is a full update.
- Sets four guidelines: boosting demand for labour, enhancing labour supply and skills, improving how labour markets work and social dialogue, and promoting equal opportunities and social inclusion.
- Places more emphasis on job quality, skills and fighting poverty, in line with the Commission’s recent initiatives.
- Encourages the use of EU funds, in particular the European Social Fund Plus and the Social Climate Fund.
Adopted: 434 for, 212 against, 23 abstentions, 51 did not vote.
Reference: A10-0260/2026