EU chided for not ensuring improved social rights at summit

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a cue for European Union leaders to add some muscle to the bloc's safeguards for its 450 million citizens in welfare, jobs and gender equality

PORTO, Portugal -- Hardship felt during the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred European Union leaders to add muscle to the bloc's safeguards for its 450 million citizens in welfare, jobs and gender equality. But not everybody’s impressed by their good intentions, which are non-binding for the bloc's 27 governments. EU leaders held a summit in Porto, Portugal on Friday to discuss how they can ensure “equal opportunities for all and that no one is left behind.” The plans and promises contained in a summit draft declaration on social rights, obtained by The Associated Press, are ambitious.