The EU Council on 29 June 2026 debated modernising social security coordination and the bloc's anti-poverty strategy, revealing a divide between member states pushing for new EU legislation and those insisting on national competence. Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu advocated for a '883 2.0' revision covering telework, activation, and real-time data exchange, but Poland, Croatia, and Estonia urged implementing the already-agreed text first. On anti-poverty, Germany, Poland, and Romania welcomed the strategy, while Denmark, Finland, Estonia, and Sweden opposed new binding EU legislation, stressing national competence. Digitalisation was broadly backed, though Germany and Slovenia warned of digital divides. Activation was central for many, but Cyprus, Germany, and others stressed multidimensional approaches. Italy, Belgium, and Romania called for stronger enforcement via the European Labour Authority, while Poland and Estonia cautioned against intrusive controls. The equal treatment directive remains blocked since 2008. The presidency closed the social security coordination revision and advanced the traineeships directive and ESF regulation. Next steps: Ireland will seek workable changes on the equal treatment directive; further work on anti-poverty and social security 2.0 continues.
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EU Matrix analysis