Minimum wages in 2026: Annual review

Minimum wage setting across the EU has become an increasingly dynamic and closely watched policy area, shaped by the transposition of the EU Minimum Wage Directive and a decade of sustained real-terms growth in statutory rates. This report examines the wage-setting discussions that took place across Member States and Norway in 2025, focusing on the countries with and without a national minimum wage, the interplay between minimum wages and collective bargaining in low-paid sectors, and the growing role of indicative reference values in shaping national decisions.

This digital story presents headline findings on how hybrid work is reshaping management practices at the line manager level: Why hybrid work demands new forms of coordination; How managers maintain visibility and performance oversight without physical co-presence; What sustains team cohesion and well-being across dispersed teams; How equitable access to information and opportunities can be ensured; Where policy guidance or support is most needed.

Governments across Europe have responded to surging energy prices with a range of measures to cushion the impact on citizens and businesses. These measures demonstrate a broad consistency of approach among the Member States: in the short term, aiming to ease the immediate impact and in the longer term, seeking to diversify energy sources and reduce energy dependency.