30 years after 'Val Duchesse' Commission gives a new impetus to the social dialogue Tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of the cooperation with European Social partners at Val Duchesse in 1985. The launch of the social dialogue aimed to involve the European social partners in the internal market process. © Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock Three decades later, to give a new impetus to social dialogue at EU level and contribute to a competitive and fair economic recovery, the European Commission will hold a high level event on 5th March with leaders of European and national employers' and workers' organisations. The European social dialogue is now well established: the European tripartite social dialogue, between European institutions and employers’ and workers’ representatives, takes place within the Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment, established in March 2003, as well as the dialogues on macroeconomics, employment, social protection and education and training. the European bipartite social dialogue, between the European employers’ and trade union organisations, takes place within the cross-industry social dialogue committee and 43 sectoral social dialogue committees, the latter covering in total more than 75% of Europe's workforce. With a view to strengthening social dialogue, the Commission will seek, together with the social partners, to ensure a more substantial involvement of social partners in EU governance, in EU policy making and to support the functioning of industrial relations and social dialogue in the Member States. These themes will be addressed at the high level event of 5 March by the Commission, represented by President Juncker, Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Thyssen and leaders from social partners organisations at EU and national level. Background Vice-President for the Euro and social dialogue, Valdis Dombrovskis, and commissioner Thyssen had a first meeting with European social partners in November 2014. It was agreed then to hold a high level event in spring 2015, 30 years after the cooperation with European social partners was launched at Val Duchesse in 1985.