1. Social Dialogue in Europe The EU's expectations towards and support for social partners?
EZA Kick-off Seminar Copenhagen 2017 Priorities of the European Social Dialogue 30 November – 1 December 2017 Jörg Tagger, European Commission, Acting Head of Unit "Social Dialogue"

2. Content What is European Social Dialogue?
New Start for Social Dialogue
Cross-industry Social Dialogue
Sectoral Social Dialogue
European Pillar of Social Rights
European Commission Support
Outlook & Conclusions

3. Social Dialogue in Europe
1. What is European Social Dialogue?

4. European Social Dialogue
No uniform definition of social dialogue at national level
Discussions, consultations, negotiations and joint actions undertaken by employers and trade unions at EU level
Essential element of European Social Model
Complements social dialogue at national/regional, sector, company level, …with its own dynamics
Crucial for ownership and lasting results of policy measures at EU and national level

5. The early years: a balanced socio-economic market
1951/52
ECSC: Consultative Committee, (coal & steel delegates)
1958
Advisory Economic and Social Committee (delegates of various economic and social activity - today EESC)
Joint Committees to advise on social and employment sectors: agriculture, transport and network services
1970s
First forms of EU tripartite cross-industry dialogue
1980s Promotion of more bipartite dialogue between SPs started to develop in the Community institutions
The early years: a balanced socio-economic market

6. 1985 1990s 2000s 2015 Launch of SD Two committees:
Macroeconomic, New technology
Social dialogue mentioned in the EEC Treaty (Single European Act, 1986)
Informal working groups
Criteria to set up sectoral SD committees (to select representative social partners)
1 cross-industry committee
43 sectoral SD committees
68 EU level employer organisations
18 EU level trade union organisations
1 unit in DG EMPL
Need to find a socially accepted balance between economic and social objectives
Reaffirm the importance of social partners in the European integration process

7. European Social Dialogue: Forms
ESD
Tripartite
Concertation
Public Authorities
(Commission, Council) +
Trade Unions
Employers
Bipartite Dialogue
Employers – Trade Unions
Cross-industry
SDC
Covering the economy
as a whole:
workers (ETUC)
and employers
(BUSINESSEUROPE,
UEAPME, CEEP)
Sectoral
SDC
Covering workers
and employers
of 43 specific
sectors of the
economy
Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment (Art. 152 TFEU)

8. Legal Basis of EU Social Dialogue
Strong institutional recognition: TFEU
Art. 152
Union recognises and promotes the role of social partners at Union level + Tripartite Social Summit
Art. 154
Promotion of consultation of European social partners by the Commission + balanced support for their dialogue
Art. 155
Agreements concluded by social partners

9. Consultation Procedure (Art. 154 TFEU)

10. European Social Dialogue Outcomes: Typology

11. Social Dialogue in Europe
2. New Start for Social Dialogue

12. 1985: Conference at Val Duchesse
Launch of the European Social Dialogue
2015: Conference at Charlemagne
A New Start of Social Dialogue

13. New Start - Priorities
Closer involvement of the social partners in the European Semester
Increase involvement of social partners in EU policy and law-making
Clearer relation between social partners’ agreements and the Better Regulation Agenda
Stronger emphasis on capacity building of national social partners

14. New Start – Timeline March 2015
Tripartite Conference: Launch of New Start
June 2016
The EPSCO Council adopted Council conclusions on a “New Start for a strong Social Dialogue" (first time that Council adopted conclusions on social dialogue)
27 June 2016
A joint statement on a New Start for Social Dialogue was signed by the EU social partners, the Commission and the Netherlands Presidency on behalf of the Council of the European Union

15. New Start – Priority 1 European Semester Involvement
EU Level
Before the Annual Growth Survey: meeting in the framework of the SDC
After the Annual Growth Survey: EMCO/SPC hold debate with EU social partners
EMCO “thematic review” on 22 Nov. (12 selected MS)
National Level
Employment Guidelines: call on Member States to involve social partners in national policies & need for an improving the functioning and effectiveness of national social dialogue
Commission consults national social partners during Semester mission

16. New Start – Priority 2 Consultations
Dedicated hearings
Long-term unemployment
Labour Mobility
Skills
European Pillar
Working Time
Apprentiship
Labour Authority & EU social security number
Meeting with Vice- presidents
Energy Union
Investment Plan
Digital Single Market
Mobility Package

17. New Start – Priority 3 SP Agreements
Support in negotiations
Assess representativeness
Better Regulation Guidelines

18. New Start – Priority 4 Capacity Building
Responsibility of social partners (identification of needs)
Employment Guidelines
ESDE Chapter
EU Calls to support social partner projects
ESF funding

19. Social Dialogue in Europe
3. European Pillar of Social Rights

20. What is the European Pillar of Social Rights?
A reference framework for upwards convergence
20 principles and rights
Building on the existing EU social law
A scoreboard of employment and social indicators
Several concrete initiatives

21. Elements of the Social Package of 26 April 2017
Chapeau Communication
Commission Recommendation with 20 principles
Identical draft for a Joint Proclamation of Parliament, Council and Commission
SWD: short fiche on each principle
SWD: a scoreboard showing progress on employment and social indicators
SWD: a consultation report
The Pillar
Work-life balance
Access to Social Protection
Written Statement Directive
Working Time Directive
Accompanying initiatives on
Investing in Children Recommendation: SWD on implementation
Active Inclusion Recommendation: SWD on implementation
Other elements
Reflection paper on developing the social dimension of Europe

22. What is the European Pillar of Social Rights?
20 principles and rights
Equal opportunities and access to the labour market
Education, training and life-long learning
Gender equality
Equal opportunities
Active support to employment
Secure and adaptable employment
Fair working conditions
Wages
Information about employment conditions and protection in case of dismissals
Social dialogue and involvement of workers
Work-life balance
Healthy, safe and well-adapted work environment
Adequate and sustainable social protection
Childcare and support to children
Social Protection
Unemployment benefits
Minimum income
Old age income and pensions
Health care
Inclusion of people with disabilities
Long-term care
Housing and assistance for the homeless
Access to essential services

23. Joint Proclamation European Pillar of Social Rights at the Social Summit for fair jobs and growth in Gothenburg on 17 November 2017
President Juncker for the European Commission,
President Tajani for the European Parliament, and
Prime Minister Ratas for the Council of the European Union

24. Putting the Pillar Into Action: A Joint Effort
Update EU legislation, step up enforcement
Funding
European Semester
Social dialogue
Civil Society

25. First Initiatives Work-life Balance Access to Social Protection
Directive + policy measures
Work-life Balance
Social partners' consultations (2nd phase just sarted)
Access to Social Protection
Social partners' consultations on the Written Statement Directive (91/533/EEC)
Information Rights for Workers
Legal guidance on Directive 2003/88/EC
Working Time 1

26. Social Dialogue in Europe
4. Cross-industry Social Dialogue

27. Cross-industry Social Dialogue Committees
AGS pre-consultation meeting
Involvement in Employment Committee (EMCO), and Social Protection Committee (SPC)
Advisory Committees on ESF, Health and Safety, Free Movement of Workers, and Social Security Coordination
Tripartite Social Summit

28. Who are the European Social Partners?
Employers
Workers
Cross-industry:
general social partner organisations
Cross-industry: organisations representing certain categories of workers or undertakings
Sectoral social partner organisations
63 sectoral employer organisations
15 sectoral worker organisations

29. Results of cross-industry Social Dialogue
Cross-industry agreements
4 Agreements implemented by Directive
Parental leave (1996), Part-time work (1997), Fixed-term work (1999), Parental leave (2010)
5 "Autonomous" agreements implemented by social partners
Telework (2002), Work-related stress (2004), Harassment and violence at work (2007), Inclusive labour markets (2010), Active Ageing and intergenerational approach (2017)
Process-oriented texts
Framework of Actions on Youth Employment (2013)
Joint opinions and tools
2016/2017 on refugee crisis, digitalisation, industrial policy, apprenticeships, greening the economy, future of Europe
Joint Statements
New Start (June 2016)
Last social summit in SE (Nov 2017)

30. Social Dialogue in Europe
5. Sectoral Social Dialogue

31. European Sectoral Social Dialogue
43 committees
145 million workers covered  three quarters of the EU workforce
> 6 million undertakings
EU Social Dialogue Liaison Forum (information and discussion on cross-cutting issues)

32. European Sectoral Social Dialogue
Commission Decision of 20 May 1998 (98/500/EC)
Art. 1: Criteria for a new committee
Organisations on both sides must:
relate to specific sectors or categories and be organised at European level
be composed of organisations that are part of the social partner structures in the Member States
have the capacity to negotiate agreements
be representative of several Member States
have adequate structures to ensure effective participation in the work of the committee

33. European Sectoral Social Dialogue
Establishing a new SSDC: steps
Joint request by the social partners addressed to Commissioner EMPL; may include draft work programme
Acknowledgement of receipt by Commissioner; preliminary assessment of representativeness of social partners
Assessment by the Commission
Acceptance/refusal of creation SSDC by Commissioner
Formal representativeness study by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound, Dublin)

34. The Outcomes of Social Dialogue
23 agreements
80 process oriented texts
744 Joint opinions, declarations and tools
For up-to-date information see the Social Dialogue texts database: ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=521&langId=en

35. Social Dialogue in Europe
6. European Commission Support

36. European Social Dialogue: Support Commission
1. Financial support for social partners’ projects and negotiations
Calls for proposals (grants); support of ETUI and EZA; joint work with ILO
European Social Fund (national capacity building)
Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance
2. Promotion and support of cross-sectoral activities
3. Research/analysis, information and communication
Industrial Relations in Europe report
Conferences
Publications, SD Newsletter

37. Social Dialogue in Europe
7. Outlook and Conclusions

38. Outlook and Conclusions
What is recommended to Social Partners
Active involvement
European Semester
Consultations on EU initiatives
Implementation of Pillar
All other activities (sectoral committees, etc.)
Make use of EU support
Grants
ESF
Capacity Building

39. Outlook and Conclusions
The future
Brexit
EP elections and new Commission
New MFF