Troika of Directors General – Meeting 24 March 2006 Recent Developments in Social Dialogue Karin Thienel

Progress under the Luxembourg Presidency Ministerial Resolutions Mission to DGs to examine how the social dialogue can be developed Welcomed the constitution of a common and pluralist delegation of trade union organizations DGs affirmed their intention to take forward the mission given by the Ministers First informal meeting between the DGs, the unified Trade Union Delegation and representatives of the European Commission

Progress under the UK Presidency Introduction of an area of substantive discussion (equality and diversity) Joint seminar in Gateshead Joint statement on equality and diversity Conference on equality and diversity in 2007 hosted by Denmark Investigations by the ad hoc Social Dialogue Working Group and survey by the UK Presidency on national trade union collaboration Mandate to the Troika: continue to examine the range of options and solutions for development of social Dialogue

Next Steps in Social Dialogue I Paper drafted by the Austrian Presidency and adopted at the 1st Meeting of the Troika Secretariat Meeting on 11 January 2006 Based on the Impulse Paper on Mobility by the incoming Austrian Presidency (handed over in Newcastle) and the Trade Union Delegation’s response to this paper of 9 January 2006

Next Steps in Social Dialogue II Main points and response of Trade Union Delegation of 6 February 2006 Participation of Representatives of the Trade Union Delegation in the Meeting of the Troika Secretariat on 6 March 2006 Trade Union Delegation welcomes rescheduling of the meeting with DGs (first day of the 46th DGs Meeting in Vienna) Mobility as an area of substantive discussion: Trade Union Delegation contributed with proposals

Proposals for future areas and forms of cooperation Inclusion of cooperation in settings and working procedures of EPAN Trade Union Delegation accepted Troika Secretariat as common platform for the preparation of the incoming DGs Meeting with Trade Union Delegation Options discussed during UK Presidency to be taken into account Suggestion: incorporation of areas of cooperation in the Mid-Term Programme 2008-2009 Trade Union Delegation will contribute a “Road-Map”

Proposals for intensified cooperation during the Austrian Presidency Decentralisation and Accountability Participation of Trade Union Experts in the 2nd HRWG Meeting (21 April 2006) Trade Union experts could also report on their own studies on decentralisation To be approved by DG Troika Cross-border Mobility of Public Sector Workers Summary to be forwarded to the Trade Union Delegation for additional comments Publication also of the more detailed results (replies of MS)? Trade Union Delegation currently conducting a survey on the involvement of national Trade Unions in the definition of terms relevant for mobility (e.g. exercise of public authority,…)

Joint EPAN / Trade Union Seminar on Mobility (29 May 2006) 15:00 – 15:30 Welcoming Statement and Objectives DG Emmerich Bachmayer – Chair EPAN 15:30 – 16:30 European Year of Workers´ Mobility 2006 - Mobility, Portability of Social Rights in the European Labour Market Jerôme Vignon – European Commission Discussion 16:30 – 17:30 Cross-Border Mobility of Public Sector Workers Presentation of the Results of the HRWG Survey carried out during the Austrian Presidency NN – Presidency Presentation of Trade Union Survey NN –Trade Union Delegation (Nadja Salson, EPSU, tbc) 17:30 – 18:00 Conclusions Peter Waldorff – Trade Union Delegation 18:00 Close of Meeting

The Austrian Presidency outlined: “These proposals are made in the full awareness that EPAN is an informal network of representatives of national administrations with differing competences, legislative backgrounds and differing principles of public service, but these proposals aim at a better integration in the normal working procedures of the informal EPAN and efficient cooperation which does not result in a growth of new structures and duplication of work.”

The Trade Union Delegation pointed out: “Since the positive achievements under the Luxembourg and UK Presidencies we are now at a consolidating phase of building trust and confidence between both sides. Substantive policy discussions on themes, jointly selected by both sides, will contribute, we hope, to the gradual process of establishing a European sectoral social dialogue committee in national administrations.”