https://static.euobserver.com/2026/01/547a3b36-8725-49ba-9238-f56594150bac-91544a35-c985-422a-b721-58818ef2bb79-77642ada-c00f-4ea9-8a50-cfc7a7783857-600x338.jpeg" width="600" />
The EU races toward its 2030 employment goal, but the real battle is over whether richer member states will back deeper social protection that could reshape power and solidarity in Europe.