Córdoba Hosts the International Seminar on the European
Pillar of Social Rights in a Just Ecological and Digital Transition
Pillar of Social Rights in a Just Ecological and Digital Transition
CEAT brings together European leaders to discuss the future of work in the context of technological and climate transformation
Córdoba, July 5, 2025 – On July 4 and 5, the city of Córdoba became the epicenter of the European debate on the future of work and social justice with the celebration of the international seminar “The European Pillar of Social Rights in a Just Ecological and Digital Transition,” organized by the Spanish Center for Workers’ Affairs (CEAT) with the support of the European Center for Workers’ Affairs (EZA).
The opening session featured remarks by Piergiorgio Sciacqua, co-president of EZA, who emphasized that the European Pillar of Social Rights is a key tool to ensure equal opportunities and decent working conditions in the current context, marked by digital and ecological transitions. David Cervera, president of CEAT, highlighted the importance of continuous training, both in digital and interpersonal skills, to help workers adapt to new jobs. He also called for cooperation among institutions, businesses, freelancers, and unions to ensure stability and fairness, particularly for vulnerable groups such as youth, women, older people, and migrants.
Throughout the seminar, prominent experts and institutional representatives addressed the major challenges and opportunities in the new socio-economic landscape:
Miguel Ángel Solana Campins, Senior Advisor of the Komtes Group and partner at 3M, discussed labor market digitalization, the shortage of professionals in STEM fields—especially women—and energy challenges from the growth of data centers. He called for more training and faster European regulation in response to the unstoppable advance of technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
José Luis Perea, Secretary General of the National Federation of the Self-Employed (ATA), raised concerns about the difficulties faced by the self-employed, from institutional late payments to bureaucratic overload. He demanded full social rights for freelancers, especially in active retirement and subsidies, and denounced the social stigma that still surrounds entrepreneurship.
Domingo Castillo, Secretary General of USO Andalucía, reflected on the role of unions in the digital era. He argued that unions must expand their mission to address the risks of telework, automation, and depersonalization, and stressed the importance of connecting with younger generations to ensure the future of unionism.
Gregorio Izquierdo, Director General of the Institute for Economic Studies, warned that without business growth, there can be no quality employment. He championed investment and productivity as keys to progress and criticized the low percentage of “gazelle companies” in Spain. He also emphasized the need to foster an entrepreneurial culture from childhood.
The seminar's international roundtable, titled “Towards a Social Europe? A Comparative Analysis of Social Rights,” gathered representatives from Romania, Hungary, Italy, and AFFAMER. Speakers agreed on the need to ensure consistent social protection across Europe, regardless of country of residence, and to give greater visibility to rural areas and the crucial role of rural women in European development.
During the closing session, Pedro Barato, president of ASAJA, denounced the negative impact of poorly designed green policies on Spanish agriculture. He advocated for balancing sustainability with profitability and warned about the declining appeal of the farming sector among young people.
The seminar concluded with a presentation by Francisco García, CEO of Hubtrick and PhD in Economic Psychology, who shared a transformative vision of tech hubs as drivers of sustainable and inclusive employment. He emphasized that companies must adapt quickly to change and that artificial intelligence is revolutionizing work processes, requiring rapid upskilling across all sectors.
Finally, the event was officially closed by Javier Morillas, member of the Spanish Court of Auditors and professor of Applied Economics, who warned of ongoing economic uncertainty, stressed the need to strengthen Europe’s geostrategic role, and highlighted the urgency of tackling corruption as a barrier to economic and social development.
This seminar made it clear that in a constantly changing world, social rights must remain at the core of public policies and social dialogue. The commitment of CEAT and participating stakeholders reaffirms the goal of building a fairer, more inclusive Europe, ready to face today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.
Córdoba, July 5, 2025 – On July 4 and 5, the city of Córdoba became the epicenter of the European debate on the future of work and social justice with the celebration of the international seminar “The European Pillar of Social Rights in a Just Ecological and Digital Transition,” organized by the Spanish Center for Workers’ Affairs (CEAT) with the support of the European Center for Workers’ Affairs (EZA).
The opening session featured remarks by Piergiorgio Sciacqua, co-president of EZA, who emphasized that the European Pillar of Social Rights is a key tool to ensure equal opportunities and decent working conditions in the current context, marked by digital and ecological transitions. David Cervera, president of CEAT, highlighted the importance of continuous training, both in digital and interpersonal skills, to help workers adapt to new jobs. He also called for cooperation among institutions, businesses, freelancers, and unions to ensure stability and fairness, particularly for vulnerable groups such as youth, women, older people, and migrants.
Throughout the seminar, prominent experts and institutional representatives addressed the major challenges and opportunities in the new socio-economic landscape:
Miguel Ángel Solana Campins, Senior Advisor of the Komtes Group and partner at 3M, discussed labor market digitalization, the shortage of professionals in STEM fields—especially women—and energy challenges from the growth of data centers. He called for more training and faster European regulation in response to the unstoppable advance of technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
José Luis Perea, Secretary General of the National Federation of the Self-Employed (ATA), raised concerns about the difficulties faced by the self-employed, from institutional late payments to bureaucratic overload. He demanded full social rights for freelancers, especially in active retirement and subsidies, and denounced the social stigma that still surrounds entrepreneurship.
Domingo Castillo, Secretary General of USO Andalucía, reflected on the role of unions in the digital era. He argued that unions must expand their mission to address the risks of telework, automation, and depersonalization, and stressed the importance of connecting with younger generations to ensure the future of unionism.
Gregorio Izquierdo, Director General of the Institute for Economic Studies, warned that without business growth, there can be no quality employment. He championed investment and productivity as keys to progress and criticized the low percentage of “gazelle companies” in Spain. He also emphasized the need to foster an entrepreneurial culture from childhood.
The seminar's international roundtable, titled “Towards a Social Europe? A Comparative Analysis of Social Rights,” gathered representatives from Romania, Hungary, Italy, and AFFAMER. Speakers agreed on the need to ensure consistent social protection across Europe, regardless of country of residence, and to give greater visibility to rural areas and the crucial role of rural women in European development.
During the closing session, Pedro Barato, president of ASAJA, denounced the negative impact of poorly designed green policies on Spanish agriculture. He advocated for balancing sustainability with profitability and warned about the declining appeal of the farming sector among young people.
The seminar concluded with a presentation by Francisco García, CEO of Hubtrick and PhD in Economic Psychology, who shared a transformative vision of tech hubs as drivers of sustainable and inclusive employment. He emphasized that companies must adapt quickly to change and that artificial intelligence is revolutionizing work processes, requiring rapid upskilling across all sectors.
Finally, the event was officially closed by Javier Morillas, member of the Spanish Court of Auditors and professor of Applied Economics, who warned of ongoing economic uncertainty, stressed the need to strengthen Europe’s geostrategic role, and highlighted the urgency of tackling corruption as a barrier to economic and social development.
This seminar made it clear that in a constantly changing world, social rights must remain at the core of public policies and social dialogue. The commitment of CEAT and participating stakeholders reaffirms the goal of building a fairer, more inclusive Europe, ready to face today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.