To a lunchtime reception offered by the President of the EESC’s Labour Market Observatory, Krzysztof Pater (Various Interests Group, Poland), who had laid on a delicious Polish spread for his guests. The Labour Market Observatory was set up in 2007 to identify and analyse labour market trends and challenges. Labour markets in all EU member states have undergone profound transformations in structures, mechanisms and industrial relations. The Labour Market Observatory observes labour market challenges and trends, collects examples of best practices, stimulates reflection by organising hearings with institutional, socio-professional stakeholders, civil society organisations and academia, and produces investigative reports and studies on selected topics.