Poland in the EU

Although most Member States have started to gradually ease the restrictions affecting the economy, ensuring health protection for citizens remains a top priority. The unemployment rate in the EU is however expected to increase significantly. In this context, it is extremely important to plan and implement actions to support employers, protect employees, create and maintain existing jobs, secure funds allocated to subsidized jobs, and reform unemployment benefit systems.

The activities of individual government administrations focus on protecting jobs, preventing mass layoffs, supporting SMEs in maintaining financial liquidity, supporting employees who lost their jobs as a result of the crisis, including self-employed, border and seasonal workers.

Much attention was and is being paid to providing protection to the citizens most affected by the crisis, including families and people from the most vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly and the disabled.

Regarding the demographic situation, EU Member States agreed that the biggest challenges include aging of the EU population, birth rates drops and a reduction of labour force. It will be necessary to include adapting social infrastructure to the new conditions. The European Commission's report on demographic challenges may prove helpful in this regard. However, due to the current situation, this report will be published later than initially expected.

Poland during the meeting was represented by Ms. Marlena Maląg, Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy.