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The Commission presented on October 27 its Work Programme for 2016, which it has named “No time for business as usual”. Among the 23 initiatives included, the Commission has announced an overhaul of the Dublin asylum system, the creation of a European border and coast guard, the establishment of a pillar of social rights, and the implementation of a new skills agenda to adapt the workforce to the digital economy.

Migration strategy

The refugee crisis has changed the European institutions’ approach to migration policy, and this is reflected in the Work Programme. Two main proposals are included in this area. The first one is the implementation of better migration management, which includes

- A review of the Dublin system on asylum to improve the gaps and weaknesses that have been exposed during the refugee crisis
- A renewed approach on legal migration that includes an extension of the Blue Card Directive
- The strengthening of the role of the European Asylum Support Office

The other main proposal foresees the creation of European Border and Coast Guard building on a reinforced Frontex.

Job creation

In regards to employment policies, the Commission wants to incentivise job creation and improve the employability of its citizens. In this vein, the New Skills Agenda will promote skills development (including the mutual recognition of qualifications) and will support vocational training and higher education while ensuring that the full potential of digital jobs is realised. Special attention will be paid to work-life balance for working parents and for the continued inclusion of women into the job market. The Women on Boards Directive will be adopted in 2016 and the Commission will continue its practical work to promote gender equality.

Social protection

An improvement on social protection is one of the main objectives outlined in the Work Programme. A pillar for social rights has been proposed with the aim of, firstly, modernising and addressing the gaps in existing legislation in the social policy field to ensure that a fair balance between employers and workers is established, and, secondly, identifying social benchmarks notably concerning the flexicurity concept, with a view to a greater convergence of employment and social performance over time. The Commission wants to guarantee a socially sustainable economic growth for the European economies beyond the 2020 timeframe, taking into account the review of the Europe 2020 Strategy and the internal and external implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.