WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1879/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Development of the social dialogue
Date: 1997-06-02
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: European social policy, economic growth, employers' organisation, employment policy, social dialogue (EU), social partners, trade union













EUR-Lex - 91997E1879 - EN






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91997E1879

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1879/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Development of the social dialogue  


Official Journal C 391 , 23/12/1997 P. 0140 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1879/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 June 1997)Subject: Development of the social dialogueThe Commission has issued a 'Communication concerning the Development of the Social Dialogue at Community Level' (COM(96) 0448 final).In view of the major policy changes facing the European Union, the Commission considers that it is time to reflect on the whole framework of the social dialogue at Community level.Since the Commission has a formal obligation under the Treaty (Article 118(b)) to develop the social dialogue between management and labour (the social partners) at European level and, under the Agreement attached to the Protocol on Social Policy in the Treaty on European Union (Agreement on Social Policy), has the task of promoting the consultation of the social partners at Community level and taking any relevant measures to facilitate the social dialogue, the aim of this Communication is to find ways to strengthen the social dialogue, to make it more adaptable and to associate the work of the social partners more closely in the development and implementation of EU policies, particularly employment and economic growth.With regard to the dialogue under the Protocol on Social Policy, the six-week deadline set by the Commission for the social partners to reply to its questions is too short. Will the Commission extend the deadline to eight or ten weeks?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (2 July 1997)The question of the deadline imposed upon the social partners in the context of the consultations organised in connection with the Agreement on Social Policy is addressed in the Commission's Communication on the development of the Community social dialogue ((COM(96) 448 final. )).The Commission suggests keeping the general deadline of six weeks, but making provision for a flexible consultation deadline established on a case-by-case basis, taking account of the nature and complexity of the subject.The point to bear in mind is that the purpose of consultation is to improve the process of decision-making at Community level. There are several factors which speak in favour of retaining the indicative deadline of six weeks. For one thing, it is necessary to avoid delaying the legislative process unduly. Secondly, consideration must be given to the wishes generally expressed by the social partners.The experience of previous consultations is that the social partners have been able to comply with the six-week deadline. For these reasons, and taking account of the contributions presented by the social partners under the consultation process on the development of the social dialogue at Community level, the Commission intends to maintain the same approach.