263As regards the objective of general interest referred to in point 6(d) of Article 1 of Regulation 2020/1054, it must be recalled that, as is apparent from Article 3(3) TEU, the European Union is to establish not only an internal market but also work for the sustainable development of Europe based, inter alia, on a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress, and it is to promote, inter alia, social protection. The European Union therefore has not only an economic purpose, but also a social objective (see, to that effect, judgment of 21 December 2016, AGET Iraklis, C‑201/15, EU:C:2016:972, paragraphs 76 and 77 and the case-law cited). According to the preamble to the TFEU, the constant improvement of living and working conditions is an ‘essential objective’ of the European Union.
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