Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, in a written answer on 23 July 2026, sought to calm fears over artificial intelligence's effect on European employment, stressing that aggregate job numbers are unlikely to fall even as task profiles shift across sectors. The reply, addressed to Loukas Fourlas (EPP), outlines a suite of EU funding and policy initiatives aimed at retraining workers and adapting labour protections to the digital age.
Mînzatu's answer, responding to a parliamentary question, acknowledges both positive and negative labour market impacts from AI, with significant variation expected by sector. While education and training remain national competences, she points to over EUR 150 billion in EU funds for 2021-2027, including EUR 2 billion from the European Social Fund Plus, EUR 23 billion from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and EUR 500 million from the Digital Europe Programme dedicated to digital skills. Additional support comes through the Union of Skills, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers, a Skills Guarantee Pilot, and the AI Skills Academy.
On regulatory follow-up, Mînzatu notes that the Commission's December 2025 Quality Jobs Roadmap announced a planned Quality Jobs Act by end of 2026, aiming to modernise labour rules. A first-phase consultation of social partners under Article 154 TFEU has already covered algorithmic management and AI at work; a second-phase consultation will follow. The Commission continues to gather evidence through projects such as the AIM-WORK analysis on AI and algorithmic management impacts, a European Parliament pilot project on AI's effects on employment and productivity, and a survey on synergies between green and digital transitions.
The answer remains largely declarative, setting out existing programmes and future intentions rather than announcing new numerical targets or deadlines. The policy orientation is cautiously optimistic, emphasising adaptation and social dialogue over disruption. Institutional follow-up will centre on the second-phase social partner consultation and the tabling of the Quality Jobs Act, expected by late 2026.