Tomorrow, the Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden. As hosts, we have both long argued that the European Union should put greater emphasis on improving the living and working conditions of our citizens.

This is the first social summit in 20 years and a meeting unique in its kind, as it brings together heads of State or government from EU Member States, leaders of the EU institutions, as well as social partners and civil society.

Europe has faced many challenges over the last decade. The financial crisis hit our economies and our social fabric hard.

Unemployment, poverty and inequality had reached unacceptably high levels across Europe, and we have seen growing concerns among people and rising distrust in political solutions, paving the way for xenophobia and populism.

At the same time, digitisation and globalisation, as well as new lifestyles and an ageing population, are changing the very way we live and work.

To put that into perspective, there are now more adults over 65 than children under 14. Most kids entering school today may end up in jobs that do not yet even exist. Forty per cent of employers already report that they are unable to find people with the skills they need. That shows that new opportunities are being created but that new challenges are also emerging.

Thanks to determined action, Europe is now slowly but steadily turning the page: growth is back at above two per cent on average in the EU, more than eight million jobs have been created over the last three years, unemployment is down to a nine-year low, and employment levels are reaching an all-time high.

To further restore trust and hope in the future, the EU Member States and institutions need to show resolve and commitment. We have to deliver concrete results and improve peoples’ everyday lives.

We have started a real debate on the future of the EU, initiated at the Bratislava Summit last year and shaped by the European Commission’s white paper earlier this year. Throughout that debate, we have both made it crystal clear that a fairer and more social Europe must be the beating heart of our Union.

We will focus on how to improve access to the labour market and get more people into work, notably women

The responsibility starts locally, regionally and nationally – and should include social partners at all levels in Europe. To support these efforts, the EU has an important part to play, as shown by this European Commission’s determination to put social priorities and social fairness at the core of everything it does.

The momentum is clearly there. We are pleased to see that a first agreement could be reached towards the revision of the Posting of Workers Directive, constituting an important step in enforcing the principle of equal pay for equal work.

And a few weeks ago, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council agreed on the European Pillar of Social Rights. The pillar sets out 20 principles for better living and working conditions for Europe’s citizens.

It is a shared commitment to the values and rights that we all stand for – from equality to social protection, from fair working conditions to lifelong learning. The proclamation of the pillar at the Gothenburg summit will be an important step towards a more social Europe.

The summit will be a key moment for the debate on the future of Europe.

We will focus on how to improve access to the labour market and get more people into work, notably women, where progress is too slow.

We will discuss how to ensure fair jobs and decent working conditions, also for new forms of work, across our continent.

We will look at how to ensure that transitions and mobility are better managed in our Union, including by equipping people with the right skills, so that they can succeed in multiple jobs throughout a career.

At the end of the summit, EU leaders will also discuss the future of education and culture in the EU.

The Europe we are working for is a Europe which puts peoples’ concerns and interests first. In Gothenburg, we will aim to anchor essential values and priorities, such as inclusive growth, fair working conditions and a strong social dialogue, firmly in the future of our Union. This is what the citizens of Europe expect from us.

Jean-Claude Juncker is President of the European Commissionand Stefan Löfven is Prime Minister of Sweden.