WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4170/97 by Eryl McNALLY to the Commission. Specific SME representation in the European- level Social Dialogue
Date: 1998-01-21
Institutions: European Parliament, MCNALLY
Subjects: European social policy, small and medium-sized enterprises, social dialogue (EU), social partners

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/13

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(26 February 1998)

Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  844/94  amending  Regulation  (EEC)  No  1101/89  on  structural  improvements  in
inland waterway transport, stipulates that the (cid:145)old for new rule(cid:146) shall remain in force until 28 April 1999. The
Commission, in its report of November 1997 (1) which was sent to the Council and the Parliament, expressed a
presumption in favour of retaining a mechanism for regulating the capacity of the fleet after 28 April 1999. The
Commission  asked  the  group  of  experts  on  the  re-structuring  of  the  inland  navigation  sector,  (which  was
established  by  Commission  Regulation  (EEC)  No  1102/89  laying  down  certain  measures  for  implementing
Council  Regulation  (EEC)  No  1101/89  on  structural  improvement  in  inland  waterway  transport),  to  reflect
further  on  this  matter  on  the  basis  of  contributions  from  the  industry  and  other  interested  parties.  The
Commission will now review this material and adopt the necessary proposals in due course.

(1)  COM(97) 555 final.

(98/C 304/19)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4170/97

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission

(21 January 1998)

Subject: Specific SME representation in the European-level Social Dialogue

Under  the  Maastricht  Treaty  certain  social  legislation,  such  as  regulations  in  the  workplace,  can  be  set  by  a
dialogue between European-level partners.

Will  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises  (SMEs)  have  specific  representation  in  the  European-level  Social
Dialogue?  What  can  the  Commission  do  to  support  the  claim  for  specific  SME  representation  in  the  Social
Dialogue?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 1998)

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are represented by a number of organisations at European level.
They are represented in the social dialogue by various organisations including, for example, the European Union
of  crafts  and  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises  (UEAPME),  the  Union  of  industrial  and  employers
confederations of Europe (UNICE) and Eurocommerce. They are members of certain advisory committees and
the standing committee of employment, and they are formally consulted on legislative proposals in accordance
with Article 3 of the agreement on social policy annexed to the Treaty on European Union.

SMEs are also represented in the sectorial joint committees and informal working groups, for example, in the
commerce, agricultural and fishing sectors by employers organisations, often representing exclusively SMEs.

Negotiation  of  agreements  is  another  aspect  of  the  social  dialogue  at  European  level.  Participation  in  these
negotiations is based on principles of autonomy and mutual recognition of the negotiating parties. Currently, the
two formal agreements adopted under the social Protocol were negotiated by UNICE, CEEP and ETUC. The
Commission has nevertheless expressed repeatedly its wish to see the social partners showing a spirit of dialogue
and of openness in order to seek among themselves the methods allowing the broadest possible acceptation of the
outcome of the agreements and consultation. The Commission will continue to press Social partners to do this.
The Commission is also engaged in carrying out a study of the representativity of Socila partners, whose results
will become available in late 1998.

The Commission is currently preparing a communication which follows an extensive hearing of all involved
parties  through  the  consultative  1996  Commission  communication  on  development  of  the  social  dialogue  at
Community level (1). The new communication will, while respecting the autonomy of the social partners, set
forth the means the Commission intends to use to adapt and promote social dialogue in the future. The aim is to
provide the tools for an even more constructive dialogue at European level where all interests, including those of
SMEs,  can  be  taken  into  account  in  a  way  that  refelcts  their  importance  with  regard  to  employment  and  job
creation.

(1)  COM(96) 448.