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On 19 January, following a debate in its official sitting in Strasbourg, the European Parliament held a decisive vote on the proposed European Pillar of Social Rights.

The draft – authored by Member of the European Parliament Maria João Rodrigues, and approved last December by the parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs committee – was already an ambitious text, which included a scrupulous analysis of current problems and worrying socio-economic trends and provided an important set of recommendations and proposals for legislation, renewed social and economic governance, and financing means to implement the Pillar.

That is why, while supporting a stronger stance on minimum income schemes, our advocacy efforts concentrated mainly on protecting the original version of the report from what seemed to be a joint attempt by the new centre-right coalition of political groups to water down its content.

The outcome was in the end a positive one and the report was supported by five political groups. The final text contains some important elements, such as the call for the introduction of legislative measures to ensure fair working conditions for all forms of employment and improve work-life balance; for a re-evaluation of the effectiveness and adequacy of national minimum income schemes; and for a forceful fight against tax evasion and avoidance to ensure welfare state sustainability.

The only negative vote was that against sections of the report that would have supported adequate minimum wages for every worker through the establishment of wage floors in each Member State.

But the most important legacy of the many months of work on this parliament own-initative report – and especially of the last few intense days before the vote – it is the great and constructive cooperation we have had with Ms João Rodrigues and her office, the report’s co-authors, key stakeholders such as the European Trade Union Confederation and the European Movement International, and the synergetic and coordinated efforts of all of our members.

This is certainly a good basis on which to work and develop further our advocacy actions on the Pillar for the next decisive phase, when we will transition from consultation to action.

The success of this initiative will hinge on the contribution of all actors involved: leaders and policy-makers, think thanks and academics, social partners and organised civil society. On our side, we have shown that we are committed to making social progress a reality and will continue to play our role.