Today, at the Val Duchesse Social Partners Summit, the European Commission, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and European social partners signed a ‘Tripartite Declaration for a Thriving European Social Dialogue’.
The ‘Tripartite Declaration for a Thriving European Social Dialogue’ stands for a renewed commitment to strengthen social dialogue at EU level and to join forces in addressing key challenges in our economies and labour markets. The aim is to support thriving businesses, quality jobs and services as well as improved working conditions.
Social dialogue – the dialogue between workers’ and business’ representatives – is a fundamental component of the European social model, contributing to economic prosperity, improving living and working conditions, fostering the competitiveness of EU businesses, and helping to anticipate and manage change, for instance in the context of the green and digital transitions.
As part of their commitment to reinforcing social dialogue, the Commission, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and European social partners agreed to:
The 2024 Val Duchesse Social Partners Summit was attended by President von der Leyen, Prime Minister De Croo, Vice-President Schinas, Commissioner Schmit, Belgian Ministers Dermagne, Vandenbroucke and Clarinval, as well as representatives from ETUC, Business Europe, SME United and SGI Europe.
The Summit was announced by President von der Leyen in her 2023 State of the Union address and the letter of intent, as well as in the 2024 Commission Work Programme. It also follows on the 2023 Council Recommendation on reinforcing social dialogue and collective bargaining at national level, as well as the Commission Communication on reinforcing and promoting social dialogue at EU level.
The first Val Duchesse meeting, which saw the birth of European social dialogue, was conveyed by former Commission President Jacques Delors in 1985.
Executive Vice President Dombrovskis, Vice-President Schinas and Commissioner Schmit will carry forward the follow-up actions to the Summit, including in particular the action plan to tackle labour and skills shortages.
Social partners play a role in improving working conditions and productivity, strengthening the competitiveness of European businesses and boosting Europe’s prosperity and resilience.
This is especially relevant in light of changes brought about by new technologies and the need for a fair transition to climate neutrality. Social partners are also essential to guarantee fairness and inclusion in the labour market and to ensure no one is left behind.
Social dialogue is enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and underlined by Principle 8 of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Pillar Action Plan.
Articles 154 TFEU lays down the Commission’s obligation to consult social partners on legislative proposals in the social policy field and allow them to negotiate agreements, that can be implemented through EU law.
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