Poland started its rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in January under the motto ‘Security, Europe!’, which illustrates the attention given to external and economic security. Yet it is imperative to assess priorities under the social agenda, which underpin the wellbeing and cohesion of European societies. 

In this context, the work of the employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs council will focus on measures to “ensure fair, non-discriminatory and safe working conditions in the age of digital transformation”. The Polish presidency underlines that “they will work to ensure equality, cohesion and inclusion; towards gender equality in a modern digital society and lean into the challenges faced by the elderly”. Yet, there are notable shortfalls in how this approach addresses the promotion of inclusion, particularly from a social services perspective. 

Need for concrete implementation strategies

Although the presidency emphasises references to young people not in education or training, mobile workers or persons with disabilities, its policy proposals often lack clear, actionable strategies. There is a reference to the traineeship package and the review of the action plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights, which are positive steps, but lack concrete measures—such as targeted funding, monitoring mechanisms, or clear timelines. Therefore, these initiatives risk remaining theoretical rather than delivering tangible improvements.

Address systemic barriers

The focus on promoting inclusion tends to emphasise employment and training but insufficiently addresses systemic barriers in access to healthcare, housing, and long-term social support. For example, while encouraging young people who are not in education into training is valuable, it fails to tackle underlying issues that prevent services from systematically engaging with these populations, such as mental health challenges or socio-economic disadvantages.

Further emphasis on supporting vulnerable populations

While the presidency highlights certain vulnerable populations, it neglects others such as ethnic minorities or addresses inclusion from a health perspective rather than a holistic approach. Inclusion policies that do not explicitly address the social challenges faced by these populations risk perpetuating existing inequalities without providing effective responses.

Improve integration of intersectionality

Social inclusion is often multi-faceted, where support for individuals should include a range of supports, e.g. disability and ageing. The proposed policies lack a nuanced, intersectional approach that considers how various identity factors compound disadvantages and require a multi-sectoral focus. Without this perspective, social policies may fail to meet the complex needs of individuals facing multiple forms of disadvantage.

Frame gender equality more broadly

While the agenda refers to gender equality in the digital sphere, it lacks a comprehensive approach to gendered inequalities more broadly. For instance, issues related to the disproportionate caregiving burdens placed on women are not adequately addressed. A more robust gender mainstreaming approach across all social policies is essential to truly promote inclusion.

Review digital inclusion challenges 

Although there is a clear reference to digital transformation, there’s an underestimation of the digital divide's impact on vulnerable populations. Many populations —especially older people, people on low incomes, and rural communities—lack the digital literacy or access necessary to benefit from these advancements. Without targeted policies to bridge this divide, digital inclusion efforts may inadvertently widen existing social inequalities.

Allocate funding more effectively

Promoting social inclusion requires targeted, effective and sustained financial investments. Yet, the Polish presidency has not clearly outlined how through its tenure could work with the Commission and national governments to address how EU funds or national budgets may support these initiatives. Without robust financial backing, inclusion policies risk faltering at the implementation stage, limiting their effectiveness.

Despite its commitment to equality, cohesion and inclusion, the current EU presidency’s approach remains fragmented and is not enough to address the deep-rooted challenges of social exclusion across Europe. The lack of concrete strategies, insufficient attention to systemic and intersectional barriers, and inadequate resourcing present challenges to promoting a positive social agenda. To strengthen its impact, the presidency should adopt a more comprehensive and intersectional approach with a focus on implementation. This should be coupled with proposals on financing that truly addresses the complexities of social policy implementation to effectively help populations with support needs access the social services and programmes they need to be able to thrive.