The aim of the framework contracts is to support the European Commission’s DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion in implementing the Better Regulation process across the full policy cycle. The contracts provide timely, high-quality analytical services for impact assessments, evaluations and monitoring in the areas of employment, skills, labour mobility and social policies. Contractors carry out evidence-based studies, analyses, data collection and research in line with the Better Regulation Guidelines and Toolbox. Assignments include supporting the design of policy options, assessing expected impacts, evaluating the performance and relevance of existing EU actions, and monitoring the implementation of legislation, programmes and policy initiatives. The framework contracts are also available for use by other Commission services.
DG EMPL is responsible for employment, social affairs and inclusion policies. The areas covered by the framework contracts include the following:
- European Pillar of Social Rights
- Employment policies and social governance, country reforms; social dialogue, minimum wage
- Long-term unemployment, youth employment
- Labour law, working conditions, future of work (including digitalisation and new technologies)
- Health and safety at work policies and legislation;
- Social investment; social protection and social inclusion; long-term care ; the rights of persons with disabilities and inclusion
- Free movement of workers, coordination of social security systems (including its digitalisation)
- Social and inclusive entrepreneurship, social economy, microfinance and social impact investment
- Skills, qualifications, Vocational Education & Training, apprenticeships, adult learning
- Social dimension of green and digital transitions
- Funding instruments, such as the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and the “Social investment and skills” window of InvestEU
- as well as cross cutting issues such as gender equality, non-discrimination (on grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation) and data protection.
