Bloomberg Talks — EU Commission's Roxana Minzatu Talks Future-Proofing ‘Quality Jobs’

Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Roxana Minzatu, Executive Vice President of the European Commission (Social Rights, Skills & Jobs)

Episode Theme & Purpose

This episode explores the European Commission's new plan to "future-proof" quality jobs in light of increasing automation, AI deployment, and the competitiveness challenges facing Europe. Roxana Minzatu discusses the roadmap for balancing workers’ rights with the need to reduce red tape, ensure economic agility, and support smooth transitions for employees affected by technological change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

A Balancing Act: Competitiveness vs. Social Rights

• The Commission is prioritizing both the competitiveness of European industry and the maintenance of strong social rights.
  • Quote: “There is no competitiveness without quality employment, without quality jobs.” —Roxana Minzatu [00:59]
• Attention on the evolving nature of work, particularly the impact of AI on both skill requirements and labor relations.
  • AI as an assistant differs fundamentally from AI as a “boss” or algorithmic manager.

Building a Trustworthy Framework for AI Workplaces

• Call for societal trust in AI adoption—ensuring both workers and employers feel secure.
• Introduction of the “Quality Jobs Act”: A legislative initiative under first-phase consultation to address worker protection and social partnership in the AI age.
  • Quote: “Do we have enough protections for workers when the algorithm is in charge, or do we need to create a framework that enables this kind of… work environment?” —Roxana Minzatu [01:44]

Addressing Fears of More Regulation

• Commitment to not imposing additional burdens on European businesses.
  • “No, no, the idea is not to create more burden for companies. We need to keep them agile.” —Roxana Minzatu [02:56]
• The focus is filling gaps in worker protection—not broad, sweeping new regulations.
• Emphasis on joint work within the Commission (particularly with VP for Technology, Hanna Wirkunen) to ensure legislation is both effective and practical.

The Simplification Debate: Streamline, Not Deregulate

• Business concerns about “red tape” and EU’s reputation for new rules addressed.
  • Recognizes the need for making regulations more efficient, reducing bureaucracy, and employing digitalization—not reducing workers’ rights.
  • “Simplification means looking at reports, looking at bureaucracy… it is not about saying, you know, you have to forego some rights.” —Roxana Minzatu [05:08]
• Clear stance against weakening labor protections:
  • “There’ll be no weakening of workers rights through simplification.” —Host [06:13]
  • “It cannot be. And I tell you, this is part of our social fiber, of our social cohesion in the union.” —Roxana Minzatu [06:15]

Human-Centric Approach to Technological Change

• Europe’s model remains “human-centric,” embedding safety, security, and privacy as core standards (e.g., via the AI Act).
  • “You cannot treat people as a machine. They are, in the end, the final end of our quest for competitiveness.” —Roxana Minzatu [04:47]
• Stress on the need to balance productivity gains from AI adoption with the health, safety, and privacy of workers.

Support for Workers Displaced by AI

• Recognizes real examples (e.g., Klarna’s layoff-rehire cycle amid automation) and the anxiety around mass job transitions.
• Outlines EU-level funds and pilot programs (“European skills guarantee for workers”) to support reskilling and upskilling for automated and AI-transformed industries.
  • “We are creating these tools so that we support people in these transitions.” —Roxana Minzatu [07:58]
• Secured a proposal for a minimum 14% direct investment in people in the next EU budget, targeting these transitions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AI as a Manager:
  “When you have AI as an assistant, is one discussion. When you’re looking at AI as a boss… then it’s a different story.” —Roxana Minzatu [01:18]
• On the EU Social Model:
  “Think that the European Union is a promise for a better life for, for the people that join the union.” —Roxana Minzatu [06:15]
• On Striking Balance:
  “If we say that Europe is not competitive because people have too many rights, then I would say this is very dangerous. I do not agree with that.” —Roxana Minzatu [05:51]
• On Adapting Regulations:
  “We need to find the right balance and to strike the right balance so that we keep our European social model, and — but also make European industries more agile.” —Roxana Minzatu [05:24]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:27 – Introduction: EU’s plan to future-proof quality jobs.
• 00:59–01:44 – Minzatu explains the plan: balancing quality employment, AI, and employment regulation.
• 01:44–02:41 – Introduction of the Quality Jobs Act and social partner consultations.
• 02:41–03:52 – Balancing new rules with business competitiveness, interaction with executive VP for Technology.
• 03:52–04:45 – Addressing regulatory burdens and the narrative of EU red tape.
• 04:45–06:15 – Hostile reaction to the idea of deregulation at the cost of workers’ rights, importance of EU social cohesion.
• 06:27–07:12 – Consistency of this approach across the Commission, especially in contrast to climate/digital simplification.
• 07:12–08:00 – Funding, support, and tools for workers displaced by AI and automation.

Tone

The conversation is pragmatic, optimistic, and firm—Minzatu stresses the value of social rights as intrinsic to European identity, while being mindful of business concerns. The language is accessible yet assertive, with repeated assurances that competitiveness will not come at the expense of worker protections.

Summary prepared for listeners who want the heart of the discussion, without the ads or filler.