Changes from plenary report to adopted text

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Articles 153 and 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs on the proposed legal basis,

– having regard to Rules 47 and 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to Articles 4, 9, 46, 149, 151, 153, 162, 164, 174 to 178 and 349 TFEU,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal (COM(2019)0640),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 4 March 2021 on the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan (COM(2021)0102),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the Just Transition Fund (JTF),

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/691 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013,

– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2023/955 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 establishing a Social Climate Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1060,

– having regard to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC,

– having regard to the European Added Value Assessment briefing of September 2025, entitled ‘Just transition directive in the world of work: ensuring the creation of jobs and revitalising local economies,

– having regard to its resolution of 23 November 2023 on job creation – the just transition and impact investments,

– having regard to the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) resolution concerning a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all,

– having regard to Enrico Letta’s report of 10 April 2024 entitled 'Much more than a market',

– having regard to the Quality Jobs Roadmap,

– having regard its resolution of 10 September 2025 on Role of cohesion policy in supporting the just transition,

– having regard to the Council Recommendation on fair transition towards climate neutrality from 2022,

– having regard to the Council Recommendation on fair transition towards climate neutrality from 2022 and the key messages from EMCO and SPC on its implementation,

– having regard to its resolution of 17 December 2020 on a strong social Europe for Just Transitions,

– having regard its resolution of 9 September 2025 on public procurement,

– having regard to the Political guidelines for the European Commission 2024−2029,

– having regard to the Commission communication of July 2025 “Framework for State Aid measures to support the Clean Industrial Deal” (C/2025/3602),

– having regard to the La Hulpe Declaration on the future of the European Pillar of Social Rights of 16 April 2024,

– having regard the Opinion on the dimensions of job quality of the Employment Committee (EMCO) of the Council of the European Union of 6 June 2025,

– having regard the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Towards a just transition legislative proposal and EU policy tools that enable a more social European Green Deal of 4 December 2024,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (A10-0261/2025),

A. whereas the green and digital transitions are having a profound transformative effect on Europe’s economies, societies, regions and workplaces in different ways, requiring comprehensive social and employment policy measures to prevent adverse impacts and promote economic, social and territorial cohesion; whereas ensuring an effective shift to a climate-neutral and digitalised economy and a reduction on energy supply dependencies is essential for Europe’s long-term prosperity, wellbeing, sustainability, growth and competitiveness; whereas the ultimate success of the twin transition will depend heavily on ensuring that transition is just and inclusive for workers, businesses and regions and that it contributes to social justice for all, with particular focus on the most vulnerable, in order to ensure that no one is left behind; whereas a fair transition alone could yield 261 billion euro per year in benefits, particularly by addressing social inequalities and regional disparities; whereas the pathways of each affected region will be different, based on their economic and social realities;

B. whereas the effects of the twin transition on employment are asymmetrical across the Union and the socio-economic impact varies greatly across different regions; whereas a spatial challenge arises, as jobs in the modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy may be created in different regions from those experiencing job losses;

C. whereas the transitions must be managed in a way to ensure social inclusion, to reduce poverty and inequalities, and to seize the potential to create quality jobs, foster democracy at work, protect workers’ rights and raise labour standards across affected sectors;

D. whereas EU labour markets remain territorially divided and whereas job quality and employment contracts show a rise in non-standard forms, especially among youth;

E. whereas managing the shift to a carbon neutral economy should not only support transitions to new quality jobs in emerging sectors but also maintain and adapt existing jobs and sectors to more sustainable and clean industries and technologies for people, especially those living in more impacted territories; whereas a particular focus on regions and industries dependent on fossil fuels is crucial as these will have to be redesigned to meet the Union’s climate commitments; whereas it is important that everyone, including workers and jobseekers are supported in managing transitions in order to foster understanding and acceptance and effectiveness of the goals of the 2050 long-term strategy; whereas as shown by Eurofound research, broad involvement of civil society, social partners and public authorities in the transition process is critical to securing and fairly distributing the returns from economic activity and resources, as well as navigating conflicts;

F. whereas Europe’s economic transformation requires a strong focus on competitiveness and growth; whereas entrepreneurs and job creators must be given the right conditions to invest and expand, and ensuring efficient use of funds is essential to attract private investment; whereas it is important that citizens, in both urban and rural areas, are engaged in and supportive of a just transition that balances competitiveness with solidarity, and that they can be confident their job, income and way of life will be safeguarded so that no one is left behind;

G. whereas while a number of important Union legislative and non-legislative initiatives aim to or can help address the impacts of the twin transition (in particular, the Just Transition Mechanism, the JTF, the EGF, the Union of Skills, the Social Climate Fund, the ESF+ and the RRF) and enhance competitiveness, gaps remain in the legislative and policy framework when it comes to disruptions at the workplace, workers’ rights, social protection, social dialogue and education and training opportunities; whereas only action at Union level can ensure real added value and concurrent upward social convergence to make the promise of ‘leaving no-one behind’ a reality, while taking into account national labour market models and traditions;

I. whereas through investing in high-skill development, the EU can foster a virtuous cycle of increased productivity, higher wages, and greater economic equality; whereas almost 50% of adults may need upskilling or reskilling; whereas the EU's energy sector alone will require at least 145.000 skilled workers by 2030; whereas clean tech is one of the drivers of economic prosperity in Europe, contributing to 30% of EU growth and creating millions of jobs in 2023 alone;

J. whereas Europe’s strategies for skills, competitiveness and investment should create opportunities for both large companies and SMEs, while also addressing national, regional and local needs; whereas policies that reinforce industrial capacity, encourage entrepreneurship and build a workforce with skills adapted to local realities are essential to ensure that all Europeans can benefit from growth and innovation;

K. whereas adequately funded welfare and social protection systems are a prerequisite for ensuring a fair and just transition towards climate neutrality and digital transformation; whereas the Draghi report further stresses the need to ensure that productivity growth and social inclusion go hand-in-hand with Member States’ welfare systems which are critical to provide strong public services, social protection, housing, transport and childcare during the transition; whereas quality jobs, decent working conditions, access to social protection, social dialogue and collective bargaining play a crucial role in attracting and retaining the workforce and are important for the Union’s competitiveness and workplace democracy;

L. whereas according to the Commission report on Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2024 (ESDE 2024), constraints on participation in adult education and training are attributed to barriers such as perceived lack of necessity, insufficient supply or difficulties in accessing relevant quality training, schedule conflicts, balancing family responsibilities and financial constraints; whereas the Draghi report calls for the EU to ensure that all workers have a right to education and retraining, allowing them to move into new roles as their companies adopt technology, or into quality jobs in new sectors;

M. whereas an integrated policy mix combining education and skills development, finance and industrial policy is a key enabler for Europe’s competitiveness, social resilience and fairness, strategic autonomy, investment and sustainable job creation; whereas the green and digital transition requires significant investments in reskilling, upskilling, vocational education and training and lifelong learning to equip workers with both the technical skills specific to each occupation and the core soft skills required; whereas older, low-skilled and female workers may face greater obstacles in ‘skilling up’ and competing for new jobs; whereas education and training efforts must therefore be closely linked with just transition policies; whereas disadvantaged workers and communities will require targeted support to ensure they are not left behind;

N. whereas important economic disparities continue to exist between EU Members States and regions, with big differences in terms of GDP since 2012, linked to the share of industry in economic activity;

O. whereas the Letta report considers that the freedom of movement and the 'freedom to stay’ are two sides of the same coin and must be developed together; whereas the Letta report considers the freedom of movement should be a free choice, and not as a necessity to compensate for the lack of jobs in some regions; whereas the report stresses the need to provide opportunities for citizens in all regions, especially in rural areas, including the need for quality jobs, and the need to tackle inequalities within and between countries; whereas the green transition if not adequately designed and supported, could affect vulnerable regions in Eastern and Southern Europe disproportionally more in terms of unemployment risks and job losses; whereas coal-dependent territories add a further layer of vulnerability with employment rates 10-15% below the EU average;

P. whereas the Quality Jobs Roadmap is expected to promote measures that support Member States and industries in providing decent working conditions and access to training, setting high standards for health and safety at work, ensuring fair job transitions for workers and self-employed notably and collective bargaining, with a view to attracting talent and contributing to the competitiveness of European industries; whereas, in this context the Commission is expected to discuss a framework with social partners to support restructuring processes at EU and Member State level; whereas this framework will be focused on just transition, on anticipation of change, early intervention when there is a threat of restructuring, and an improved information and consultation;