Luxembourg at EPSCO: work, social protection and the challenges of an ageing population
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On 10 March 2025, the European Union's Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Protection Council (EPSCO) met in Brussels. Luxembourg's Minister of Labour Georges Mischo and Minister of Health and Social Protection Martine Deprez participated.
Under the Polish presidency, the focus was on the labour and skills shortages caused by an ageing population - a process symbolically referred to within the Council as the "grey transformation".
In his speech, Georges Michaud emphasised that Luxembourg is already implementing measures to prolong the professional activity of citizens in order to mitigate the effects of the demographic shift.
Ministers approved the Joint Employment Report 2025 and adopted the Council conclusions on economic policy recommendations for the euro area.
During the working ministerial lunch, special attention was paid to the topic of the right to disconnect from work after working hours. Michaud recalled that Luxembourg has had a law on the right to disconnect since 28 June 2023, which was included in the Labour Code - an important step in protecting work-life balance.
On the margins of the meeting, Georges Michaud and Martin Despres met with Roxana Mînzatu, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of quality employment, social rights and education. The main topic was the draft revision of Regulation 883/2004 governing the coordination of social protection systems in the EU. The Luxembourg delegation stressed the importance of a balanced approach that takes into account the interests of all countries and supports the reintegration of the unemployed in the labour market.
In addition, Martin Despres held a bilateral meeting with the new Austrian Minister of Social Protection, Korinna Schumann, where she discussed priority areas in the field of health and social protection.
Georges Michaud met with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour David Clarinval to discuss common challenges relevant to both neighbouring countries.
