The High-Level Group on the future of social protection and of the welfare state in the EU was initiated at the end of 2021 by the Commission as announced in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan.
The main task of the High-Level Group was in particular to analyse the expected impacts of megatrends such as demographic changes, resulting in a shrinking workforce and an ageing population, transformations on the labour market and the digital and green transitions, as well as the emergence of new risks on the social protection and on the welfare systems.
The members of the group furthermore analysed the implications of these impacts for the design and scope of social protection systems and the financing of social protection and developed key strategic recommendations to both national and EU levels for the future of social protection.
In its final report, the High-Level Group developed a vision on how to reinforce social protection systems and the welfare state considering ongoing and new challenges, in a medium to long-term (looking ahead to 2030).
Factsheet: Ensuring the future of social protection and of the welfare state in the EU (2023)
