.: News

On the occasion of the first European Maritime Day a joint agreement on Maritime Labour standards was signed by the Social Partners (20-05-2008)

After negotiations over 1½ year a joint agreement on Maritime Labour standards was reached by the Social Partners of the Maritime Transport sector. This agreement aims to incorporate certain provisions of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 into Community law.

EU leaders and social partners debate next steps for Growth and Jobs (13-03-2008)

At the Tripartite Social Summit on 13 March 2008, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša – current President of the European Council – discussed with high-level employers' and workers' representatives the progress made under the EU's Growth and Jobs Strategy.

European social dialogue: benefits for workers and companies (05-12-2007)

A recent conference in Lisbon highlighted examples of recent achievements, as well as looking back at the history of European social dialogue in the context of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the European Union.

EU leaders and social partners discuss how the Reform Treaty and Lisbon Strategy can boost labour markets (18-10-2007)

Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates – current President of the European Council – today discussed with high-level employers' and workers' representatives reform of the EU Treaties and the future of the EU's Growth and Jobs Strategy. They were joined by Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, as well as representatives of the future Slovenian and French Presidencies. The European social partners used the opportunity of the Tripartite Social Summit – held alongside the informal meeting of Heads of State and Government in Lisbon - to present their joint analysis of the key challenges facing Europe's labour markets and in particular of the way forward towards flexicurity

Promoting the social dimension of the Energy Treaty with Balkans (18-10-2007)

Today in Vienna, Commissioner Piebalgs signed Memorandum of Understanding on social issues in the context of the Energy Community with Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, FYROM, Montenegro, Serbia and UNMIK . The signature is on behalf of the European Union and Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities who is attanding the Tripartite summit in Lisbon. The Memorandum focuses on the role of social partners, the social acquis communautaire and the protection of vulnerable customers. This commitment will be the basis for developing a structured dialogue on social issues within a regular forum.

Commission pushes forward on consultation with workers and employers for better work-life balance (30-05-2007)

The Commission has adopted today the second stage consultation with workers' and employers' representatives on how to achieve a better balance between work, private and family life. Invited to express their opinions on the need for Community action on this issue last October, thirteen of the European social partners have sent contributions. All have acknowledged the importance of issues such as accessible care facilities for children and dependants, the need for men genuinely to take up reconciliation measures, equal pay, flexible working hours and the possible updating of existing legislation related to reconciliation. Although views differ on what needs to be done and at what level, the majority of the social partners consider that further action is needed in this area.

European employers and trade unions commit to tackle violence and harassment at work (26-04-2007)

Today the European social partners (ETUC, BUSINESSEUROPE, CEEP and UEAPME) signed a framework agreement on harassment and violence at work. The agreement aims to prevent and, where necessary, manage problems of bullying, sexual harassment and physical violence at the workplace. Companies in Europe will have to adopt a policy of zero-tolerance towards such behaviour and draw up procedures to deal with cases of harassment and violence where they occur. Data suggests that one in 20 workers (5%) reports being exposed to bullying and/or harassment each year.

Cooperation between employers and trade unions has increasing role in European workplace (08-12-2006)

High quality industrial relations make a significant contribution to economic performance, from company-level to the economy as a whole, says a new European Commission report. The 2006 Industrial Relations in Europe report shows that co-operation between employers and trade unions plays an increasing role in the European workplace and can help to create the right conditions for strong growth.

EU calls on social partners to join the flexicurity debate (20-10-2006)

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, together with Commissioner Vladimír Špidla and Member States' representatives called on employers' and workers' organisations to participate actively in the debate on flexicurity. The informal Tripartite Social Summit was organised jointly by the Finnish Presidency and the Commission to encourage high-level trade union and employer representatives to examine ways of combining active labour market policies, flexible contractual arrangements, lifelong learning and social protection. It was the first opportunity for the social partners to provide input to discussions on flexicurity at the European level.

Turning European social dialogue into national action – workers and employers implement telework agreement (11-10-2006)

Today, employers and workers representatives – UNICE/UEAPME, ETUC, CEEP- will present Vladimir Špidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, with the first joint report on the implementation of the framework agreement on telework in Member States and EEA countries. It is the first time that such an agreement has been put in place directly by workers’ and employers’ representatives at national level in an autonomous way (in line with article 139 of the Treaty). Previous EU framework agreements on parental leave, part-time work and fixed term contracts have been implemented by a directive.

The Commission welcomes the launch of the new hospitals' sectoral social dialogue committee (20-09-2006)

Workers' and employers' representatives from the hospital sector - the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers' Association (HOSPEEM) - have launched the 33rd sectoral social dialogue committee with the backing of the European Commission. A growing number of sectors are involved in this partnership approach, contributing to better governance at European level

The Commission welcomes the launch of the steel industry's new sectoral social dialogue committee (22-06-2006)

The steel industry's social partners - the European Metal Workers Federation (EMF) and the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (EUROFER) - have launched the 32nd sectoral social dialogue committee with the full backing of the European Commission. This new committee will monitor the social, economic and employment consequences of EU policies on the steel sector. It will also examine how structural changes within the steel industry in Europe and worldwide affect employment.

Millions of workers' health to be protected by Europe's first multisector agreement (25-04-2006)

More than 2 million workers in many different sectors across Europe will be covered by the first European multisector agreement to be signed today. It will protect workers exposed to crystalline silica dust, which can lead to silicosis, a potentially fatal lung condition. Silicosis is also linked to other dangerous lung conditions, such as emphysema and lung cancer. Today's agreement aims to reduce workers' exposure to crystalline silica dust through good practice in the workplace. It will be signed by the social partners (trades unions and employers' representatives) in the presence of EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimír Špidla.

National social partners need bigger role in making Growth and Jobs strategy work, Tripartite Social Summit hears (23-03-2006)

The EU's strategy for more Growth and Jobs needs greater involvement from national social partners (trade unions and employer representatives) the Tripartite Social Summit in Brussels heard today. The Summit, which took place just hours before the European Council meeting of EU leaders, also discussed the social partners new work programme for the next three years in the presence of European Commission President Barroso, Commissioner Spidla, European Council President Schüssel, representatives from the two incoming EU Presidencies, as well as high-level EU and national social partners.

Social Dialogue Conference brings European representatives of 31 sectors together for first time (13-03-2006)

The first sectoral social dialogue conference takes place today in Brussels (Palais d’Egmont), bringing together trade unions and employer representatives from all 31 sectors in the European social dialogue committees. Representatives from sectors such as textiles, agriculture, constructions and chemicals will join Vladimír Špidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social affairs and Equal opportunities at the conference. They will discuss the social partners' role in tackling the challenges facing the EU, such as restructuring, skills gaps and changing population trends.

European agreement of the Agricultural Social partners concerning Musculoskeletal disorders (21-11-2005)

In the context of the European social dialogue in agriculture, the social partners EFFAT and GEOPA signed an agreement on 21 November 2005, in the presence of Odile Quintin, Director General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, on the reduction of the exposure of workers to the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

London Tripartite Summit to discuss social partners' contribution to the future of the EU (24-10-2005)

EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will today ask the European social partners (employer and trade union organisations) what economic and social reforms they advocate to adapt to globalisation and sustain Europe's social model. The two leaders will attend the informal Tripartite Social Summit in London, along with EU Commissioner Vladimir Spidla, Austrian Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and representatives of the social partners. The meeting is the social partners' final opportunity to provide input into the Heads of Government Summit on the future of the EU's economic and social model at Hampton Court, UK on 27 October.

20 years of European Social Dialogue: Social Partners provide input to the debate on the future of Europe (29-09-2005)

EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso said at today's social dialogue summit in Brussels: "Without solidarity there would not be a European Union. Faced with rapid globalisation, we must work hard, together with our social partners, to renew and strengthen Europe's economic and social models." Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal opportunities, Vladimir Spidla emphasised that the social partners' role has become even more important due to the economic and social challenges facing the EU, such as industrial restructuring and an ageing population. The meeting was an opportunity for the social partners to provide input to the debate on the future of the European social model, which will be discussed at next month's informal EU heads of state summit in the UK.

Conference on Strengthening Social Dialogue in the Western Balkan Countries(19/08/2005)

DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and the TAIEX office of the European Commission are organising a conference on Strengthening Social Dialogue in the Western Balkan Countries, which will take place in Skopje (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) on 6 and 7 October 2005.

Social partners strongly support the Commission's review of the Lisbon Strategy(22/03/2005)

The European social partners (UNICE/UEAPME and CEEP for the employers and ETUC/CEC/Eurocadres for the trade unions) declared their support for the review of the Lisbon strategy at the Tripartite Social Summit in Brussels, which was held together with representatives of the European Commission and of the present and future EU Presidencies. Commission President Jos� Manuel Barroso, who co-chaired the meeting along with Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Council, took this message to the meeting of Heads of State and Government at the European Council later in the day. At this occasion, the social partners presented a number of key contributions: a joint declaration on the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy, a joint contribution to the EU Youth initiative, a Framework of actions on gender equality and reports on social partner actions in Member States on employment and lifelong learning. Key documents

Social Dialogue Brochure (19/11/2004)

The promotion of social dialogue in an enlarged Europe was the main theme of the conference organised by DG Employment and Social Affairs in Ljubljana in January 2004. The recently published brochure on the conference outlines the conclusions of the conference.

Conference to highlight importance of social dialogue progress in EU candidate countries(17/11/2004)

Social dialogue, the negotiations between the social partners of employers and trades union and governmental organisations, is at the heart of Europe's economic and social model. This will be the European Commission's central message at the forthcoming conference 'Strengthening social dialogue in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey' on 19 and 20 November.

Commission asks workers and employers what action should be taken to combat musculoskeletal disorders (12/11/2004)

These ailments, which include back pain and repetitive strain injury, are the biggest health and safety problem facing European workers today. Studies show that they affect over 40 million workers in all sectors across the EU and account for 40 to 50 per cent of all work-related ill-health. They are costing employers across the EU billions of euros.

European Commission, Presidency and social partners reaffirm social dialogue's key role in the Lisbon strategy(04/11/2004)

Representatives of employers, employees and government were presented with the findings of the Kok report at the Tripartite Social Summit in Brussels on 4 November, where they also heard that the role of social partners is key to the EU's potential economic and employment growth.

Social partners in co-operation to combat work-place stress (08/10/2004)

The four major European social partner organisations have signed a framework agreement on work-related stress, an issue which is a concern for both employers and workers.

Commission adopts Communication on social dialogue (12/08/2004)

Social dialogue - the negotiations and discussions between the social partners, employers and trade union organisations - plays a pivotal role in European society. It is at the heart of Europe's economic and social model, enabling parallel progress on the economic and social fronts. It can play a key role in helping the EU reach its Lisbon target of becoming the world's most competitive economy by 2010, according to the European Commission. In its latest Communication on the issue, adopted on 12 August, the Commission has called for 'a Partnership for Change' involving more targeted effort, promoting awareness and understanding of the results of the European social dialogue, capacity-building, and effective interaction between different levels of industrial relations.

Communication (pdf - 249 Kb) Press release