Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on: - the 'Communication from the Commission adapting and promoting the social dialogue at Community level', and - the 'Draft Council decision amending Decision 70/532/EEC setting up the Standing Committee on Employment in the European Communities'
Date: 1999-01-14
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU employment policy, cross-border cooperation, enlargement of the Union, social dialogue, social partners, standing committee (EU)

C 93/54

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

6.4.1999

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on:

— the ‘Communication from the Commission adapting and promoting the social dialogue at

Community level’, and

— the ‘Draft Council decision amending Decision 70/532/EEC setting up the Standing

Committee on Employment in the European Communities’

(1999/C 93/08)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Communication from the Commission adapting and promoting the social
dialogue at Community level and the draft Council decision amending Decision 70/532/EEC
setting up the Standing Committee on Employment in the European Communities (COM(1998)
322 final);

having regard to the decision taken by its Bureau on 13 May 1998, under the fourth paragraph
of Article 198c of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to draw up an opinion
on the subject and to direct Commission 5 for Social Policy, Public Health, Consumer
Protection, Research and Tourism to undertake the preparatory work;

having regard to the draft opinion (CdR 343/98 rev.) adopted by Commission 5 on 9 November
1998 (rapporteur: Mr Chaves Gonzalez),

adopted the following opinion at its 27th plenary session of 13 and 14 January 1999 (meeting
of 14 January).

1. General comments

1.1.
In the wake of its communication concerning the
development of social dialogue at Community level (1),
the Commission is now considering the future of this
dialogue, setting out new lines of action and measures
to adapt and increase the involvement of the social
partners in the framing of EU policies.

1.2.
Economic globalization and the transition to the
single currency must be consistent with the achievement
of an increase in employment, this being the Union’s
overriding priority. In this context, as the European
Council on employment stressed on 20 and 21 November
1997, social dialogue has a fundamental role to play in
key areas such as modernizing the organization of work,
anticipating structural change and providing back-up
for restructuring, and adapting terms and conditions of
employment so that they allow for the development of
new forms of work which reconcile job creation, efficacy,
solidarity and quality of life.

1.3.
Social dialogue has proved its effectiveness. It
must be stepped up in order to help boost economic and
social cohesion, following the guiding principles of
growth, competitiveness and employment. To achieve

these objectives, the COR considers that existing social
dialogue machinery must be developed and adapted
in order to make it more effective, transparent and
representative.

The COR supports the Commission’s communi-
1.4.
cation and its aim of adapting and strengthening social
dialogue, making it more flexible and fostering greater
involvement of the social partners in the framing
and implementation of EU policies, particularly those
relating to economic growth and employment.

1.5.
In accordance with its earlier opinions, and
bearing in mind the important role which local and
regional authorities play in generating a significant
amount of employment in the EU, and their experience
in promoting social dialogue — as demonstrated by the
various employment pacts launched by local and regional
authorities, in which the social partners play an active
part — the COR and local and regional authorities
should be involved in the implementation of instruments
promoting and developing social dialogue at Community
level.

(1) COM(96) 448 final.

1.6.
The COR thinks that SMEs should also be
involved in these instruments, given the important role
which small businesses play in job creation.

6.4.1999

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93/55

2. Promoting the exchange of information

asks that this delegation provide balanced representation
of both the public and private sectors.

For the social partners to play an effective part
2.1.
in the framing and implementation of EU policies, they
must be properly informed. The COR supports the
various mechanisms which the European Commission
has established, and endorses the proposals set out in
the communication.

2.2.
The COR also thinks that other Commission
DGs — notably DG X — should be more closely
involved, so as to ensure that the EU public is familiar
with the social dialogue machinery.

3. Adapting the consultation procedures

The COR supports the Commission’s proposed
3.1.
reform of the procedures for consulting the social
partners (consultation at cross-industry level; consul-
tation at sectoral level; consultation under Article 3 of
the agreement on social policy).

3.2.
The COR considers that this reform and simplifi-
cation of the institutional framework will help to clarify
procedures, improve the representativeness of the social
partners, and make consultations more effective.

4. Employment partnership

The COR supports the reform of the Standing
4.1.
Committee on Employment, as its activities are outdated
and it does not operate satisfactorily.

5. Emphasizing joint-action and negotiation

5.1.
The COR agrees that joint action and negotiation
between the social partners, the Member States and the
EU institutions need to be stepped up, so as to pursue
social dialogue effectively with a view to encouraging
job creation and addressing the changes taking place in
the production system.

5.2.
The COR asks the Commission to include it in
the information and consultation procedure, so that it
can give its views on issues which are of crucial
importance for the socio-economic development of the
EU’s cities and regions.

6. Social dialogue and enlargement

The COR supports the Commission’s proposal
6.1.
to take concrete steps to promote the development of
social dialogue structures and activities in the candidate
countries.

6.2. With an eye to the establishment of a Euro-
Mediterranean partnership and free trade area by the
year 2010, the COR asks the Commission to introduce
measures supporting the development of social dialogue
structures in the Mediterranean partner countries.

7. Cross-border social dialogue

The COR also asks the Commission to explore
4.2.
possible ways of involving it in the work of the
Standing Committee, bearing in mind local and regional
authorities’ responsibilities and policies in the employ-
ment field. Furthermore, and bearing in mind the
the employment generated by local
importance of
and regional authorities, the COR points out that
responsibility for coordinating the employers’ delegation
on the Standing Committee should not rest solely with
representatives of private sector employers. The COR

The EU’s border regions are also involved in
7.1.
social dialogue. Businesses, trade unions and regional
and local authorities are conducting a series of cross-
border initiatives which seek to help them adjust to
the single market and promote their socio-economic
development.

7.2.
The COR calls on the Commission to support
these initiatives and to implement new schemes promot-
ing cross-border social dialogue.

Brussels, 14 January 1999.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Manfred DAMMEYER