European Social Dialogue

European social dialogue is at the heart of European Union governance. It enables the European social partners to help to define European social standards, and is a fundamental part of the European social model.

The ETUC is the only social partner representing workers at European level. The Treaty of Maastricht (1992) guarantees this formal status. Together with the EU-level employers, it is involved in consultation in areas such as employment, social affairs, macroeconomic dialogue, industrial and regional policies.

Dialogue between the European social partners takes place at both cross-sectoral and sectoral levels. The participants in the cross-sectoral dialogue, the ETUC, BusinessEurope (private sector employers), UEAPME (SMEs), and CEEP (public employers), concluded framework agreements on parental leave (1996) and revised in 2009, part-time work (1997) and fixed-term contracts (1999). They were ratified by the Council of Ministers and are now part of European legislation.

The social partners have also concluded autonomous agreements on telework (2002), work-related stress (2004), harassment and violence at work (2007), inclusive labour markets (2010) and on active ageing and an intergenerational approach (2017).

They have also adopted frameworks of action on lifelong development of competencies and qualifications (2002), gender equality (2005) and youth employment (2013).

In July 2015, the EU Social Partners adopted their fifth multiannual work programme (2015-2017). This covers active ageing; reconciliation of work, private and family life and gender equality; mobility and migration; investment and strengthening the industrial base; skills needs in digital economies; active labour market policies; apprenticeships and youth employment; capacity building and better implementation of European social dialogue outcomes.

The ETUC represents workers’ interests in the Social Dialogue Committee, which meets three times a year.

Resource Centre Social Dialogue websites for workers and employers were set up in 2007 to enhance awareness and knowledge of EU social dialogue.

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  • 10.09.2020 Document

    Renewal of the European Partnership on Integration

    Renewal of Partnership for Integration
    On 7 September 2020, the European Social and Economic partners (ETUC, BusinessEurope, CEEP, SMEunited and EuroChambres)  and the European Commission - represented by Commissioners Johansson and Schmit - renewed their commitment to the European Partnership for Integration Offering opportunities for Refugees to integrate the European Labour Market with a
  • 18.12.2019 Document

    ETUC Executive Committee statement on the lack of Social Dialogue on Labour Law reform in Ukraine

    ETUC Executive Committee statement on the lack of Social Dialogue on Labour Law reform in Ukraine Adopted at the Executive Meeting of 17-18 December 2019 The ETUC Executive Committee expresses its concerns about the perceived lack of willingness of the Ukrainian government to undertake a proper consultation process with the social partners on the Labour Law reform and pledges to raise this with the European Commission and Parliament.
  • 24.10.2019 Press release

    ETUC response to EU Court ruling

    Today the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in the case brought by the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) against the refusal of the European Commission to put forward their Social Partner Agreement for adoption as a European Directive (Judgment T-310/18, EPSU and Goudriaan v Commission). The court judgement will be a blow to those 9.8 million government workers who would have benefited from much needed rights to information and consultation with their employer.
  • 09.10.2019 Press release

    EU trade unions and employers want ambitious EU industrial strategy

    Cover
    European employers and trade unions are jointly calling on the new European Commission and Parliament for a more proactive and ambitious EU industrial strategy. The European Trade Union Confederation, BusinessEurope, SMEunited and CEEP want to position European industry as a global leader that will responsibly deliver prosperity by creating value for the people and the planet.
  • 11.09.2019 Press release

    MEPs and unions call for EU action on democracy at work

    ETUC Isabelle Schomann call for more democracy at work
    On the 25th anniversary of the European Workers Councils Directive, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is calling on the new European Commission and Parliament to strengthen workers' democracy across the European Union. A statement calling for new EU initiatives for more -           and stronger European Works Councils
  • 03.09.2019 Page

    Call for a sub-contractor to provide expertise as part of the Integrated Projects of the EU Social Dialogue

    In their work programme for 2019-2021, the European social partners recognised that in order for the European social dialogue to have a positive impact much needs to be done to strengthen and support social dialogue at all levels and to enhance the capacity building of national social partners, where needed, to follow-up on European, and national, social dialogue outcomes. To this effect, the European social partners are looking for two subcontractors to support their ongoing work in this area. The deadline for applications is 13 October.
  • 31.08.2019 Page

    Employers and unions urge dialogue on social services

    Progress towards social dialogue on social services took a step forward this summer with a meeting between European trade unions and employers in the sector. The European Public Service Union (EPSU) met with the Federation of Social Employers to discuss better working conditions offering greater dignity to the 10 million social service workers across Europe.
  • 06.02.2019 Publication

    European Social Dialogue - Work Programme 2019-2021

    Cover Working Programme 2019-2021
    The sixth autonomous work programme of the European social partners supports the objectives of the 2016 quadri-partite statement on “A New Start for Social Dialogue1” to strengthen social dialogue at European and national levels; to foster the role and influence of national social partners in the European semester; and to step up capacity building support to national social partners, notably through the European Social Fund. The 2019-2021 Work-Programme addresses the six following priorities:
  • 05.09.2018 Event

    Seminar in Candidate Countries - Promoting and Reinforcing Social Dialogue

    *Reminder - Today is the official deadline to register  Brussels, 21st September 2018 To ETUC Member organisations in candidate countries For information: Trade Union members of the Social Dialogue Committee For information: to all ETUC Member Organisation Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Colleagues, The European social partners, ETUC, BusinessEurope, CEEP and UEAPME would like to invite you to participate in their:
  • 07.02.2018 Event

    Invitation - European social partners' seminar on social partners' involvement in the economic governance

    Brussels, 27 February 2018 To the TUSLOs For information to the Trade Union Members of the SDC For information to the ETUC Member Organisations TUSLOs registered for the 13th March TUSLO Co-ordination Meeting have already been added to the list for this event, but please remember to register separately using the link below. If you are not already registered for the 13th March TUSLO Co-ordination Meeting, participation at this event cannot be guaranteed as spaces are limited. Dear Colleagues,
  • 24.01.2018 Event

    Invitation - Conference "The role of the ESF in capacity building of social partners"

    Brussels, 8 February 2018   To the Trade Union Members of the: ESF Committee ETUC Economic and Social Cohesion and Regional Policies Committee Social Dialogue Committee For information to: ETUC Member organisations Dear Sir, Madam, The European social partners, ETUC, BusinessEurope, CEEP and UEAPME would like to invite you to participate in the conference:
  • 16.11.2017 Speech

    Extraordinary Tripartite Social Summit in Gothenburg - Luca Visentini's speech

    Luca Visentini
    Esteemed Presidents and Prime Ministers,   I would really like to thank Stefan Löfven for his kind offer to organise this extraordinary tripartite meeting, the day before the Social Summit. This is a great opportunity for social partners to play a role in support of the European Pillar of Social Rights and for its implementation, following tomorrow’s proclamation.
  • 16.11.2017 Document

    Social Summit in Gothenburg - Statement of European Social Partners

    Europe is one of the best places to live, work and do business in the world because our social market economies combine free markets, private initiative, economic freedoms, free movement of people and welfare states designed to deliver social rights and public services. Nevertheless, Europe is still faced with many economic, social and political challenges: insufficient competitiveness and employment creation, inequalities, migration, security issues, and the need to redefine EU-UK relations. These challenges require ambitious European solutions.
  • 07.11.2017 Press release

    ETUC calls for Written Statement Directive to be overhauled

    The ETUC is calling for the 1991 Written Statement Directive, which obliges employers to give employees written details on the employment relationship, to be thoroughly reformed and modernised. It is the first chance for the EU to demonstrate that the European Pillar of Social Rights can be translated into real rights in the workplace. At the moment, the Directive simply requires employers to provide information on the terms and conditions of employment. The ETUC is calling for the Directive to include fair terms and conditions of employment enforceable for the workers.
  • 20.10.2017 Speech

    Tripartite Social Summit: Speech given by Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary

    Tripartite Social Summit – Estonian Presidency Brussels, 18th October 2017 Speech given by Luca Visentini, ETUC General Secretary [Check against delivery] Esteemed Presidents, Vice President, Commissioner, Ministers, Dear colleagues from social partners, This Tripartite Social Summit comes in the middle of discussions about the future of Europe and few days before the expected proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
  • 18.10.2017 Press release

    ETUC proposes east-west 'wage convergence alliance' and 'just transition' to EU leaders

    At today’s Tri-Partite Social Summit - with Presidents Juncker and Tusk, Prime Minister Ratas of Estonia, and the Labour Ministers of Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria - Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation called for fast proclamation of an ambitious European Pillar of Social Rights and proposed a series of initiatives including:    
  • 24.03.2017 Press release

    60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome

    Today, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome, and the day before an informal EU summit to celebrate the anniversary and reflect on the current state and future of the EU, the European Trade Union Confederation

Contacts

Mr Claes-Mikael STAHL

Deputy General Secretary

Mr Ruairi FITZGERALD

Senior Advisor

Ms Cecilia LAZZARONI

Project Officer

Mrs Elisabeth TERREN

Project Officer

Mr Lionel FALLON

Project assistant

Ms Roxane BERTOLINI

Administrative Assistant To Claes-Mikael STAHL