1. European Social Dialogue Andrew Chapman Directorate General Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities European Commission

2. Instruments of Employment and Social Policy SocialAgenda Legislation Working conditions - Health and Safety Gender Equality – Anti-discrimination Open Method of Coordination Employment Social Inclusion / ProtectionEuropeanSocialFund European Social Dialogue

3. What is European Social Dialogue? Discussions, consultations, negotiations and joint actions undertaken by the social partner organisations representing the two sides of industry (“management and labour”, i.e. employer and trade union organisations) at European level.

4. Key principles for social dialogue Freedom of association Pluralism of organisations Voluntary character Autonomy of the social partners

5. A Treaty-based instrument Article 138 EC Treaty: "The Commission shall have the task of promoting the consultation of management and labour at Community level and shall take any relevant measure to facilitate their dialogue by ensuring balanced support for the parties… To this end, before submitting proposals in the social policy field, the Commission shall consult management and labour…" Article 139 EC Treaty: "Should management and labour so desire, the dialogue between them may lead to contractual relations, including agreements."

6. Forms of social dialogue Bipartite Dialogue Employers – Trade Unions TripartiteConcertation Public Authorities (Commission, Council) + Trade Unions + Employers Trade Unions + Employers European Social Dialogue Sectoral Covering workers and employers of 35 specific sectors of the economy, Cross-industry "Val Duchesse" Covering the economy as a whole: workers (ETUC) and employers (BUSINESSEUROPE, UEAPME, CEEP)

7. European social partners – who are they? 1. Cross-industry – general social partners organiations 2. Sectoral social partner organisations (examples) and others… Employers Trade unions

8. Representativeness Criteria Adequate structures to ensure effective participation Recognised social partner at national level; capacity to negotiate; in all Member States EU level Cross-industry or specific sector/category

9. 1 Cross industry social dialogue committee 36 (+ 2) Sectoral social dialogue committees Extractive Ind. Sea fishing Agriculture Automobile (*) Non ferrous metal (*) Gas Steel Chemical Woodworking Textile/clothing Tanning/leather Sugar Shipbuilding Furniture Footwear Electricity Construction Football Catering Hospitals Live performance Insurance Inland Navigation Industrial cleaning Horeca Commerce Civil aviation Banking Audiovisual Temporary agency work Telecom Sea transport Road transport Railways Private security Postal services Personal services Local / Reg. government

10. SDC – How it works Social dialogue table Com Decide on the rules of procedure of their dialogue (Objectives, Preparation, Presidency…) Decide on the level and rhythm of their dialogue (Number and type of meetings) Decide on the content of their dialogue (Agenda of the meetings) Decide on the outcome of their dialogue The social partners "Autonomy and responsibility" European Commission

11. European Social Dialogue Outcomes Social dialogue table Better understanding Consensus building Better capacity to promote the sectoral interests Capacity to act together in an autonomous way

12. Social dialogue texts Agreements establishing standards Article 139.2 EC Treaty Recommendations on standards and principles Exchange of information Framework agreements Autonomous agreements Frameworks of action Joint opinions Guidelines and Codes of conduct Policy orientations Declarations Tools Implementation Follow-up at National level Information Diffusion European Commission

13. Integrating New Member States Social Partners from new Member States are eligible to participate in European Social Dialogue from the date of accession Participation is arranged through the appropriate European organisations at cross-industry or sectoral level This is a matter for the Social Partners themselves

14. Thank you for your attention! More information about European social dialogue: www.ec.europa.eu/socialdialog uewww.ec.europa.eu/socialdialog ue