A major milestone: The European Parliament’s resolution on a just transition in the world of work
On 20 January 2026, the European Parliament adopted the resolution ‘Just transition directive in the world of work: ensuring the creation of jobs and revitalising local economies‘. The resolution calls on the European Commission to support workers, businesses and local economies in adapting to the profound transformations of Europe’s labour market driven by decarbonisation and digitalisation, while presenting a just transition as a pathway that can deliver benefits for all. Under Article 225 TFEU, the Commission is now expected to submit an appropriate legislative proposal in response. SOLIDAR calls on the Commission to act without delay.
An EU legislative framework, alongside national strategies and policies.
The resolution calls for the establishment of a robust legislative framework at EU level to anticipate and manage change in regions and sectors undergoing transitions. This framework should promote the creation of high-quality jobs and ensure improved working conditions and reinforced workers’ rights, including by promoting social dialogue, collective bargaining and the meaningful information and consultation of workers and their representatives. It should also guarantee access to education, training and skills development, notably through an individual right to training during working hours and improved access to reskilling and upskilling opportunities, ensuring a better alignment between labour supply and demand across regions. Moreover, the resolution underlines the importance of reinforcing occupational health and safety standards and strengthening measures to safeguard workers’ physical and mental health throughout the transition.
In parallel, the resolution calls on Member States to develop comprehensive and cross-cutting national just transition strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of the twin transitions on regions, specific sectors and the workforce. These strategies should be tailored to local realities and designed in partnership with public authorities, private actors, social partners and civil society. Member States are also urged to introduce targeted policies to support those most affected, particularly people in vulnerable situations, while strengthening social protection systems and social safety nets, including dedicated assistance for displaced workers, and essential public services. Furthermore, the resolution highlights the importance of promoting territorial cohesion and place-based approaches to ensure that rural and less developed regions can benefit fully from transition-related investment and local job creation.
Regarding funding, the resolution calls for adequate resources to be allocated to the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in order to provide comprehensive support for just transition policies. It stresses the need for an extended and enlarged Just Transition Fund; continuation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers; and a reinforced SURE mechanism to protect jobs in times of crisis. It also calls for measures to reduce administrative burdens and provide enhanced technical assistance to facilitate access to funding. Furthermore, the resolution emphasises the importance of providing targeted support for SMEs and local economies through simplified access to EU funds, investment incentives tailored to their needs, and programmes designed to prevent forced redundancies.
SOLIDAR’s assessment: a significant step forward
With 420 votes in favour, 207 against and 20 abstentions, the adoption of this resolution demonstrates the European Parliament’s strong cross-party recognition of the importance of a just transition. At the same time, compared to the Legislative Initiative (INL) report adopted by the EMPL Committee in December 2025, SOLIDAR regrets that significant parts of the original text were removed at the hands of the EPP and far-right groups, including explicit references to the need for a Directive, which now only appear in the titles of the resolution and its annex, as well as references to the European Fair Transition Observatory, which was established by DG EMPL. These deletions followed a joint statement by employers and business representatives urging the European Parliament to reject the “most problematic” provisions and to avoid turning the INL report into binding EU legislation, arguing that existing EU and national frameworks already address the social aspects of transitions, that transition impacts are best managed at national and sectoral levels, and that additional prescriptive rules would create complexity and costs without clear added value.
Despite its reduced ambition, SOLIDAR welcomes the European Parliament’s resolution as an important step forward in advancing a just transition in Europe. The focus now turns to the European Commission. SOLIDAR stands alongside workers’ representatives, such as the ETUC, IndustriAll Europe and AK Europa, as well as civil society organisations, in calling on the Commission to propose a legally binding framework for a just transition, both as a standalone EU Directive and integrated into the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act, expected by the end of 2026. Together, we will continue to push for a transition that leaves no worker or community behind.
