For fairness on the single market, the European Commission proposes to set up a European Labour Authority. When you ask Europeans which EU right they value most, eight out of 10 say free movement.

Today 16 million Europeans live and work in another Member State. Twice as many as 10 years ago. We now have fair rules in place to facilitate labour mobility, but what if people don’t know what their rights are, and what if they are not enforced on the ground?

With the European Labour Authority we can help citizens, workers and businesses on the move. It will help people to find their way on the increasingly European labour market. And it will help Member States to cooperate so that everybody can enforce fair rules, support them to exchange information, carry out joint inspections and work better together.

Moving from job to job, they fail to build enough rights to support them when they are out of work

I also want everyone to have access to social protection. The lifetime labour contract is no longer the norm. Four out of 10 Europeans are self-employed or work on temporary contracts. Often, they can’t join social security schemes. Moving from job to job, they fail to build enough rights to support them when they are out of work.

On top of that, the world of work is changing rapidly. We need to update our rulebook. You can use an app to order a taxi, food, even a babysitter. But when workers get sick, old or unemployed – who pays the hospital, pension or benefits? We propose that everyone – including the self-employed and workers in the gig economy – should be able to build up rights. In exchange for contributions.

I call on the Member States and social partners to grasp this opportunity, to take their responsibility and support these proposals. The success or failure of Europe depends on the well-being of our citizens.

Europe is growing again.

Europe is working again.

Now let’s make Europe inclusive again.

Marianne Thyssen is European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility.