Communication from the Commission - Partnership for change in an enlarged Europe - Enhancing the contribution of European social dialogue
Date: 2004-08-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: accession to the European Union, social dialogue (EU)

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 12.8.2004 
COM(2004) 557 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 

Partnership for change in an enlarged Europe - 
Enhancing the contribution of European social dialogue 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

2.1 

2.2 

2.3 

2.4 

3. 

3.1 

3.2 

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 

The agenda for reform: competitiveness and more and better jobs ............................. 4 

Improving adaptability ................................................................................................. 4 

Investing in human capital and job quality .................................................................. 4 

Attracting more people to the labour market ............................................................... 5 

Delivering reforms ....................................................................................................... 5 

The role of the social partners: The need for a reinforced partnership ........................ 5 

The European social dialogue as a form of better governance .................................... 5 

The need for good synergies ........................................................................................ 6 

3.2.1 

Synergies with the national level ................................................................................. 6 

3.2.2 

Synergies between sectors............................................................................................ 7 

3.2.3 

Synergies between the European social dialogue and the company level ................... 8 

4. 

4.1 

4.2 

4.3 

4.4 

4.5 

The Commission's role in supporting social dialogue ................................................. 8 

Strengthening and enlarging partnership ..................................................................... 8 

Stepping up support to the European social dialogue structures in the context of 
enlargement .................................................................................................................. 9 

Improving the impact and follow-up of the European social dialogue........................ 9 

Autonomous agreements............................................................................................ 10 

Preparing further developments ................................................................................. 11 

Annex 1: Background to the European social dialogue ........................................................... 12 

Annex 2: Typology of the results of European social dialogue ............................................... 15 

Annex 3: Drafting checklist for new generation social partner texts....................................... 20 

Annex 4: The sectoral social dialogue committees .................................................................. 21 

Annex 5: List of European social partner organisations consulted under Article 138 of the 

Treaty ......................................................................................................................... 22 

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1. 

INTRODUCTION 

The need for a Partnership for Change 

The European Union (EU) is currently facing change on an unprecedented scale.  

The EU has adopted a strategy for responding to this challenge: enlargement to new borders 
and  the  objective  of  economic  and  social  modernisation  agreed  at  the  Lisbon  European 
Council in 2000, and to which an environmental dimension was added at Gothenburg in 2001. 

The  European  social  model  places  great  emphasis  on  the  need  for  social  dialogue  and  it  is 
widely recognised that successful economies in the 21st century will not be possible without a 
modern system of labour relations and efficient strategies for managing change pro-actively. 

To  underpin  the  implementation  of  the  Lisbon  agenda,  the  spring  2004  European  Council 
calls  on  Member  States  to  build  partnerships  for  change  involving  the  social  partners,  civil 
society and the public authorities in accordance with national traditions. 

The  social  partners,  with  the  active  support  of  the  European  Commission,  have  laid  the 
foundations for the European social dialogue, and both its tripartite and bipartite dimensions 
have  developed  in  a  dynamic  and  innovative  way.  In  recent  years  the  social  partners  have 
wished to pursue a more autonomous dialogue and are adopting a diverse array of initiatives, 
including an increasing number of 'new generation' joint texts, characterised by the fact that 
they are to be followed-up by the social partners themselves. This requires greater interaction 
between  the  different  levels  of  industrial  relations,  including  effective  industrial  relations 
systems and social partner capacities at national level. 

Enlargement: Challenges and opportunities 

Enlargement will reinforce the need for social dialogue and partnership. Enlargement creates 
new  opportunities  for  EU  economies  and  enterprises,  but  major  adjustments  are  still 
necessary, particularly in the economies of the new Member States. Partnership will therefore 
be  of  particular  importance  to  managing  the  impact  of  continuing  restructuring  in  these 
countries.  

However,  the  enlargement  of  the  EU  also  presents  a  challenge  for  the  European  social 
dialogue. Social dialogue in the new Member States is characterised by the predominance of 
tripartism,  relatively  new  social  partner  organisations,  and  under-developed  bipartite  social 
dialogue  at  national  and  sector  levels.  The  question  of  the  technical  capacity  of  the  social 
partners is of importance in this context. 

Enlargement  will  also  challenge  the  technical  capacity  of  the  European  social  partner 
organisations.  It  will  increase  the  variety  of  industrial  relations  traditions  and  imply  larger 
negotiating delegations, which may make it harder to reach agreement.  

Purpose of the Communication 

The  social  dialogue  Communications  of  1998  and  2002  described  and  established  the 
institutional  framework  in  which  the  European  social  partners  operate,  and  which  is  now 
firmly rooted.1 

1 

Commission  Communication,  Adapting  and  promoting  the  Social  Dialogue  at  Community  level, 
COM(1998) 322 final; Communication from  the Commission, The European social dialogue, a force 
for innovation and change, COM(2002) 341 final. 

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As the mid-term point of the Lisbon Strategy and the review of the Sustainable Development 
Strategy approach, it is a good time to take stock of the European social dialogue, particularly 
in view of the recent calls for a Partnership for Change to help deliver the reforms necessary 
to enable the Lisbon objectives to be met on schedule. Furthermore, the recent enlargement of 
the  EU  comes  at  a  time  when  important  qualitative  developments  are  occurring  within  the 
European social dialogue. 

Against  this  backdrop,  while  fully  recognising  the  broad  scope  of  the  social  dialogue,  the 
purpose  of  this  Communication  is  to  promote  awareness  and  understanding  of  the 
results of the European social dialogue, to improve their impact, and to promote further 
developments  based  on  effective  interaction  between  different  levels  of  industrial 
relations. 

2. 

THE AGENDA FOR REFORM: COMPETITIVENESS AND MORE AND BETTER JOBS 

In a world of rapid change and high mobility of capital and technology, the quality of human 
resources is the key factor for international competitiveness.  

These  fundamental  transformations  are  changing  the  way  Europe  works,  the  employment 
profile and traditional thinking about how EU labour markets function. Enterprises are having 
to respond to structural change, reassess the skills they need and how production in general 
and work processes in particular should be organised. 

The  challenge  ahead  is  to  improve  quality  in  work  with  a  view  to  positively  managing  all 
dimensions of change - economic, social and environmental - in order to ensure sustainable 
development and social cohesion by mobilising and developing the full potential of both the 
present and future labour force. The need to strengthen the adaptability of workers, enterprises 
and sectors in EU economies is therefore of paramount importance. 

2.1 

Improving adaptability 

To improve adaptability, it is important to achieve a balance between flexibility and security 
in the employment relationship. This is fundamental both to employers, to enable them to run 
competitive firms, and to employees, in order to benefit from decent working conditions and 
wages.  

In this context new questions emerge with regard to how to deal with the management of the 
workforce, and trade-offs are being negotiated by social partners at all levels with regard to 
employment relationships, lifelong learning possibilities, flexible working time arrangements 
and the organisation of transitional labour markets. 

2.2 

Investing in human capital and job quality 

Sustainable employment and productivity growth needs to be underpinned by increased and 
more effective investment in human capital and better job quality.2 Well-developed industrial 
relations systems can help to create favourable conditions for innovation, improvement of job 
quality and competitiveness.  

2 

Communication  from  the  Commission,  Improving  quality  in  work:  a  review  of  recent  progress, 
COM(2003) 728 final. 

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Investing in job quality in terms of health and safety at work, appropriate access to training 
and skill development over all age groups and good working conditions for maintaining and 
attracting staff, are important ingredients for responding to the challenge of managing change. 

High  performing  work  organisations  are  created  through  consensual  relations  between 
management  and  employees,  which  can  best  be  achieved  through  negotiation  and 
collaboration at enterprise level. 

2.3 

Attracting more people to the labour market 

Europe needs to make work a real option for all. Higher employment rates and labour market 
participation  are  all  the  more  necessary  because  of  the  future  decline  of  the  working  age 
population.  

Through collective bargaining, social partners can help to improve labour market provisions 
in  order  to  create  incentives  for  employers  to  recruit  the  unemployed  more  easily  and  to 
contribute to fighting undeclared work. EU participation rates can be increased by removing 
the obstacles which continue to hinder the participation of women and people with disabilities 
in the labour market.  

A further important source to be tapped for increasing labour supply is to ensure that people 
remain  in  work  for  longer,  which  requires  the  development  of  comprehensive  active  ageing 
strategies.3  Urgent  action  is  necessary  by  the  social  partners  to  remove  incentives  for  early 
retirement in conjunction with the creation of incentives to remain in work for longer. 

2.4 

Delivering reforms 

The report of the Employment Taskforce4 argues that sustainable reform requires investment 
in 'political capital' and efforts to develop intelligent and effective institutions. 

The  Commission  calls  on  the  European  and  national  social  partners  to  take  part  in  a 
genuine partnership for change by stepping up their efforts to address the themes identified 
above and ensuring that their contributions are as concrete and effective as possible. 

3. 

THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL PARTNERS: THE NEED FOR A REINFORCED PARTNERSHIP  

3.1 

The European social dialogue as a form of better governance 

The European social dialogue in its current form has evolved considerably since its launch in 
1985. Quantitatively, the work of the various social dialogue committees has resulted in the 
adoption of more than 300 joint texts by the social partners and they have undertaken many 
transnational joint projects.  

In recent years there has been a qualitative shift in the nature of the social dialogue towards 
greater autonomy. This is reflected by the increasing adoption by the social partners of 'new 

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Communication  from  the  Commission, Increasing  the  employment of  older  workers and delaying  the 
exit from the labour market, COM(2004) 146 final. 
Jobs,  Jobs,  Jobs  –  Creating  more  employment  in  Europe,  Report  of  the  Employment  Taskforce, 
November 2003. 

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generation' texts, in which they undertake certain commitments or make recommendations to 
their national members, and seek to actively follow-up the text at the national level.  

This evolution of the social dialogue is consistent with the Commission's more general efforts 
to  improve  European  governance.  The  social  dialogue  is  indeed  a  pioneering  example  of 
improved consultation and the application of subsidiarity in practice and is widely recognised 
as making an essential  contribution to better governance, as a result of the proximity of the 
social  partners  to  the  realities  of  the  workplace.  Indeed  the  social  partners  are  different  in 
nature  from  other  organisations,  like  pressure  or  interest  groups,  because  of  their  ability  to 
take part in collective bargaining.  

In spite of the European social partners' achievements and some promising developments (see 
Annex  1),  the  impact  of  their  initiatives  could  be  improved,  especially  the  new  generation 
texts,  many  of  which  address  the  Lisbon  themes.  One common difficulty is  that many texts 
contain  imprecise  and  vague  follow-up  provisions.  Effective  follow-up  at  national  level  is, 
however,  only  possible  if  the  European  social  partners'  texts  include  detailed  provisions  on 
this. 

3.2 

The need for good synergies 

If  the  European  social  partners  are  to  make  an  effective  contribution  to  achieving  the 
objectives of the Lisbon Strategy, good interaction between the different levels of industrial 
relations is essential. 

3.2.1 

Synergies with the national level 

The  increasing  autonomisation  of  the  European  social  dialogue,  in  particular  the  increasing 
adoption  of  diverse  initiatives  and  new  generation  texts  followed-up  by  the  social  partners 
themselves,  means  that  effective  interaction  between  the  European  and  national  levels  of 
industrial  relations  is  crucial.  Good  quality  industrial  relations  at  the  national  level  are 
therefore of the utmost importance. 

Capacities 

In  practice  the  impact  of  the  social  partners'  texts  will  depend  largely  on  both  the  political 
will of the national affiliates to implement the text, as well as their technical capacities to do 
so, including their representativeness. Data on the coverage rates of collective agreements in 
the Member States, particularly after enlargement, suggest that effective implementation may 
be problematic in numerous Member States. 

The Commission urges the social partners and Member States to work together to assist the 
social  partners  in  reinforcing  the  administrative  capacities  of  national  social  partner 
organisations,  for  example  through  the  possibilities  provided  by  the  structural  funds  –  in 
particular the European Social Fund (ESF).5 

National  public  authorities  could  potentially  play  a  facilitating  role  with  regard  to  the 
implementation  of  European  texts  in  some  Member  States.  Indeed,  this  potential  role  is 
reflected  in  Article  139(2)  of  the  EC  Treaty,  which  states  that  agreements  shall  be 
implemented  in  accordance  with  the  procedures  and  practices  "specific  to  management  and 
labour and the Member States" (emphasis added). For example, if a text or its provisions are 
implemented at the national level through a collective agreement, in Member States where the 

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COM(2004) 493 final. 

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use  of  extension  procedures  are  part  of  normal  industrial  relations  practice,  this  could 
potentially  help  to  extend  the  scope  of  the  impact  of  the  European  text.  In  some  Member 
States tripartite mechanisms and structures may also be useful. 

Awareness-raising 

If the synergies between the European and national level are to be maximised, it is important 
to ensure that the social partners promote awareness of their texts at all levels by organising 
promotional  activities.  Regular  meetings  between  the  European  social  partners  and  national 
affiliates, such as in social dialogue committees, or conferences and other events organised by 
the social partners themselves – will therefore be all the more important in an enlarged Europe 
and for ensuring effective implementation of new generation texts.  

Transparency 

To  maximise  synergies  it  will  also  be  essential  to  ensure  that  the  results  of  the  European 
social dialogue are as transparent as possible to all those involved with the negotiation and 
follow-up of texts. Indeed, the significance and status of the European social partners' texts is 
not always easy to understand to those not directly involved in their dialogue, partly because 
of the diverse range of titles and formats employed, and the rather loose use of terminology. 
However, imprecise terminology, as well as failure to clarify all aspects of the follow-up of 
texts  in  negotiations,  can  result  in  difficulties  when  it  comes  to  implementing  them  in 
practice. 

texts:  autonomous  agreements,  and  process-oriented 

The  Commission  has  identified  two  main  categories  of  texts  which  could  qualify  as  'new 
generation' 
texts  which  make 
recommendations of various kinds (frameworks of action, guidelines, codes of conduct, and 
policy  orientations).  The  essential  difference  is  that  agreements  are  to  be  implemented  and 
monitored by a given date, whereas the second kind entail a more process-oriented approach, 
involving  regular  reporting  on  progress  made  in  following-up  the  objectives  of  the  texts. 
These categories are explained at greater length in the typology provided in Annex 2. 

The Commission encourages the social partners to improve the clarity of their texts and to 
include detailed follow-up provisions in their new generation texts. With this end in view, 
the  Commission  invites  them  to  draw  on  the  typology  and  drafting  checklist  included  as 
annexes, and to invest in joint follow-up actions. 

3.2.2 

Synergies between sectors  

The social partners in different sectors – at the European, national and company level - can 
learn a great deal from each other's experiences. The results of the European social dialogue 
could therefore be improved by enhancing the synergies between the various sectors as well 
as  between  the  European  cross-industry  and  sectoral  levels.  For  example,  in  the  area  of 
lifelong learning, some sectors (postal services, banking, cleaning industry) have referred to 
the cross-industry framework of actions. Similarly, on the topic of telework, social partners in 
the electricity and local and regional government sectors have adopted joint texts welcoming 
the cross-industry agreement and calling on their members to implement it in their sectors in 
accordance with the procedures and practices specific to management and labour by the July 
2005 implementation deadline for the cross-industry agreement. Both sectors also undertake 
to monitor the implementation of the agreement in their sectors in 2005. 

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The Commission encourages the social partners to continue to explore similar approaches. 
Greater publicity by the social partners for the results of their dialogue would be helpful in 
this respect, and the Commission will assist this process. 

3.2.3 

Synergies between the European social dialogue and the company level 

Finally, the social partners could explore the possible synergies between the European social 
dialogue  and  the  company  level.  One  example  is  the  link  between  the  sectoral  social 
dialogue and European  works  councils  (EWCs).  In  recent years there has been an  intense 
development of company-level social dialogue and adoption of agreements within European 
groups.  Approximately  650  EWCs  have  now  been  created,  often  comprising  the  largest 
undertakings in the sector. 

Increasingly the range of issues being considered within EWCs is expanding beyond the core 
issues of company performance and employment to embrace subjects with a strong European 
dimension  such  as  health  and  safety,  equal  opportunities,  training  and  mobility,  corporate 
social responsibility, environmental isues. Where these and similar topics are being addressed 
by the social partners at the sectoral level there may be an opportunity for synergies between 
that level and the EWCs in the sector concerned.  

The  European  social  partners  could  use  the  opportunity  provided  by  the  Commission's 
consultation on the revision of the EWC Directive to improve the link between EWCs and 
the social dialogue. 

Another avenue which could be explored further when seeking to promote synergies between 
the European and company level, is the link between social dialogue and company policies 
to promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).6 Over the last two decades enterprises 
have  initiated  an  increasing  number  of  social  and  environmental  responsibility  initiatives, 
sometimes  in  response  to  pressures  from  their  stakeholders.  Some  of  the  European  sectoral 
social  partners  are  undertaking  CSR-related  initiatives  including  charters  and  codes  of 
conduct. 

4. 

THE COMMISSION'S ROLE IN SUPPORTING SOCIAL DIALOGUE 

According  to  Article  138(1),  the  Commission  has  the  task  of  promoting  the  consultation  of 
management  and  labour  and  must  take  any  relevant  measure  to  facilitate  their  dialogue  by 
ensuring balanced support for the parties. 

4.1 

Strengthening and enlarging partnership 

The Commission takes the view that negotiations are the most appropriate means for settling 
questions  related  to  work  organisation  and  employment  relations  at  both  cross-industry  and 
sector  level,  and  welcomes  the  social  partners'  wish  to  pursue  a  more  autonomous  dialogue 
and  to  contribute  to  achieving  the  Lisbon  objectives.  It  also  encourages  social  partners  to 
make use of the possibility provided by many Community directives for certain issues to be 
fleshed out through negotiations between the social partners at all relevant levels.  

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Commission  Communication,  Corporate  social  responsibility:  A  business  contribution  to  sustainable 
development, COM(2002) 347 final. 

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Further to the March 2004 European Council conclusions on the need for a Partnership 
for Change, the Commission will monitor the follow-up given by the social partners to their 
contribution and assessment of the achievement of the Lisbon objectives. 

4.2 

Stepping up support to the European social dialogue structures in the context of 
enlargement 

In the context of an enlarged Europe, support for bipartite social dialogue needs to be stepped 
up.  The  social  dialogue  committees  are  the  appropriate  bodies  for  the  development  of  the 
social dialogue. The Commission will encourage new sectors to develop a social dialogue and 
to contribute to efforts to achieve the Lisbon objectives. 

The European social dialogue needs solid foundations, which means that there is a need for 
the quality of industrial relations to be improved at national and decentralised levels in some 
cases. 

The  Commission  will  continue  to  encourage  the  development  of  bipartite  social  dialogue 
within the new Member States and will increase its support to the European social partners 
in order to deal with the consequences of enlargement. 

It is however important to note that as the social partners are autonomous and social dialogue 
in the EU is based on the freedom of the right to association, capacity-building is essentially a 
bottom-up process depending on the efforts of the social partners themselves. 

Extend and update the studies on representativeness 

In order to identify the social partners to be consulted under Article 138 of the EC Treaty, the 
Commission  carries  out  representativeness  studies  on  the  European  organisations.  This 
information is also important for the setting up of new sectoral social dialogue committees, as 
well  as  the  Commission's  assessment  of  the  representative  status  of  the  signatory  parties  to 
Article 139(2) agreements. 

In  view  of  the  expansion  in  the  number  of  sectoral  social  dialogue  committees  and  EU 
enlargement, the current pace of the studies and monographs needs to be stepped up and the 
existing studies need to be regularly updated and made publically available. 

The Commission proposes that the representativeness studies should be carried out by the 
European Industrial Relations Observatory of the Dublin Foundation. 

4.3 

Improving the impact and follow-up of the European social dialogue 

The  Commission  welcomes  the  increasing  adoption  of  social  partner  texts  making 
recommendations  of  various  kinds  to  their  members  for  follow-up  at  the  national  level  (see 
Annex 2).  

It encourages the social partners to make greater use of peer review techniques inspired by the 
open  method  of  coordination  for  following-up  these  texts,  for  example  by  setting  targets 
(quantitative,  where  feasible)  or  benchmarks,  and  regularly  reporting  on  progress  made 
towards achieving them. 

The Commission will improve the visibility of the European social dialogue and assist the 
social partners in following up their texts by: 

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–  Exploring  ways  of  promoting  the  sharing  of  experience  on  follow-up  practices,  for 
example  through  the  production  of  electronic  newsletters,  the  Liaison  Forum,  and 
experience-sharing forums; 

–  Providing  support  for  the  social  partners  which  will  be  accessible  on  the  social  dialogue 
website.  This  could  consist  of  a  typology  of  social  dialogue  texts  based  on  the  one 
proposed  in  this  Communication,  a  lexicon  of  social  dialogue  terminology,  a  drafting 
checklist for new generation texts, good examples of follow-up provisions, information on 
European  company  agreements,  and  any  other  useful  information.  The  Commission  will 
also include all social partner texts in a data base; 

–  Reinforcing financial support for joint follow-up actions by the European social partners; 

–  Organising national seminars in each Member State – beginning in the new Member States 
-  to  raise  awareness  of  the  importance  of  the  European  social  dialogue  for  national 
industrial relations. 

4.4 

Autonomous agreements 

The  Commission  fully  recognises  the  negotiating  autonomy  of  the  social  partners  on  the 
topics falling within their competence. 

However in the specific  case  of  autonomous agreements implemented in accordance with 
Article 139(2), the Commission has a particular role to play if the agreement was the result 
of an Article 138 consultation, inter alia because the social partners' decision to negotiate 
an agreement temporarily suspends the legislative process at Community level initiated by 
the Commission in this domain. 

While  respecting  the  principle  of  the  autonomy  of  the  social  partners,  the  Commission  will 
publish  autonomous  agreements  and  inform  the  European  Parliament  and  the  Council  of 
Ministers, after undertaking an ex-ante assessment as it does for Article 139(2) agreements to 
be implemented by Council decision. 

Upon the expiry of the implementation and monitoring period, while giving precedence to the 
monitoring undertaken by the social partners themselves, the Commission will undertake its 
own monitoring of the agreement, to assess the extent to which the agreement has contributed 
to the achievement of the Community's objectives. 

Should  the  Commission  decide  that  the  agreement  does  not  succeed  in  meeting  the 
Community's  objectives,  it  will  consider  the  possibility  of  putting  forward,  if  necessary,  a 
proposal for a legislative act. The Commission may also exercise its right of initiative at any 
point, including during the implementation period, should it conclude that either management 
or labour are delaying the pursuit of Community objectives. 

While  recognising  the  broad  scope  of  the  social  partners'  competences,  in  line  with  the 
previous concerns of the Commission, where fundamental rights or important political options 
are  at  stake,  or  in  situations  where  the  rules  must  be  applied  in  a  uniform  fashion  in  all 
Member States and coverage must be complete, preference should be given to implementation 
by  Council  decision.  Autonomous  agreements  are  also  not  appropriate  for  the  revision  of 
previously  existing  directives  adopted  by  the  Council  and  European  Parliament  through  the 
normal legislative procedure.  

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4.5 

Preparing further developments 

In view of the growing number of new generation texts, the Commission considers there to be 
a need for a framework to help improve the consistency of the social dialogue outcomes and 
to  improve  transparency.  This  Communication  makes  a  first  step  in  this  direction  by 
proposing a typology (Annex 2), and a drafting checklist (Annex 3). 

The  Commission  will  examine  the possibility  of  drawing  up  a  more  extensive  framework. 
The  Commission's  preferred  approach  would  be  for  the  social  partners  to  negotiate  their 
own framework, and it calls on the social partners to consider this possibility. 

Interest  in  and  the  importance  of  transnational  collective  bargaining  has  been  increasing  in 
recent  years,  particularly  in  response  to  globalisation  and  economic  and  monetary  union. 
EWCs are adopting a growing number of agreements within multinational companies which 
cover  employees  in several Member  States. There is also a growing interest in cross-border 
agreements between social partners from geographically contiguous  Member States, as well 
as  agreements  between  the  social  partners  in  particular  sectors  covering  more  than  one 
Member State. 

In  view  of  this  trend,  the  Commission  is  conducting  a  study  of  transnational  collective 
bargaining  and  will  make  its  results  available  to  the  social  partners.  At  a  later  stage  the 
Commission will consult the social partners on their outcome regarding the development of 
a Community framework for transnational collective bargaining.  

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Annex 1: Background to the European social dialogue 

The  European  social  dialogue  has  evolved  considerably  over  recent  years  and  is  now  well-
established. 

European  tripartite  social  dialogue  takes  place  within  the  Tripartite  Social  Summit  for 
Growth  and  Employment,  established  in  March  20037,  as  well  as  the  dialogues  on 
macroeconomics, employment, social protection and education and training. 

European  bipartite  social  dialogue  takes  place  within  the  cross-industry  social  dialogue 
committee  and  30  sectoral  social  dialogue  committees  (see  Annex  4),  on  the  basis  of  work 
programmes adopted by the social partners. 

Both bipartite and tripartite dialogue contribute to better cohesion and to building consensus 
by  stimulating  cooperation  between  levels  of  industrial  relations  players  which  helps  to 
develop trust and mutual understanding.  

Quantitatively,  the  work  of  the  various  social  dialogue  committees  has  resulted  in  the 
adoption of over 40 joint texts by the cross-industry social partners and approximately 300 by 
the  sectoral  social  partners.  These  take  a  variety  of  forms,  ranging  from  joint  opinions  to 
guidelines, codes of conduct and agreements. Some of these initiatives, such as three of the 
agreements concluded by the cross-industry social partners and those in the transport sector, 
have been implemented by Council directives. 

The  social  dialogue  has  also  evolved  considerably  in  terms  of  the  scope  of  the  topics 
addressed. The topics covered by the social dialogue are diverse and have widened over the 
past few years. 

Number of European sectoral joint texts per area 
(1997-2003)

Economic &/or sectoral policies
Social dialogue
Working conditions
Training
Social aspects of EU policies
Employment
Enlargement
Health & safety
Working time
Non-discrimination
Sustainable development

30

29

28

18

17

16

11

10

7

5

4

5

0

10

15

20

25

30

35

* This table identifies the main topic to which the joint text refers, however in practice many overlap categories. 

The activities of the social partners are not confined to the adoption of joint texts. The social 
partners  undertake  many  transnational  joint  projects.  They  consist  of  a  large  variety  of 
activities,  including  the  organisation  of  roundtables,  studies,  and  the  production  of  practical 
tools, such as handbooks on vocational training, health and safety and procurement practices. 
The transnational nature of these projects means that they make a very practical contribution 
to  increasing  the  interplay  between  industrial  relations  actors  at  the  European  and  national 

7 

OJ L 70, 14.3.2003, p. 31. 

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12 

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levels, promoting the exchange of experience and best practice, and improving understanding 
of European policy at the grass-roots level. 

It  is  now  widely  recognised  that  better  governance  in  the  field  of  employment  and  social 
policy entails a variety of policy instruments, including a combination of legislation, social 
dialogue,  corporate  social  responsibility,  the  open  method  of  coordination,  the  structural 
funds, action programmes, mainstreaming measures, policy analysis and research. The variety 
of  tools  employed  by  the  social  partners  reflects  this  recognition  in  the  industrial  relations 
field. 

Type of social dialogue instrument (1997-2004)

Joint opinions

Declarations

Rules of procedure

Tools

Process-oriented texts

Autonomous agreements

3

Agreement - Council*

6

18

19

25

26

106

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

* Although the table covers the period 1997-2004, this category includes the cross-industry agreement on parental leave from 
1995. 

Many  of  the  European  social  partners'  joint  opinions  targeted  at  the  European  institutions 
have been important in influencing the content of EU legislation and policies, particularly by 
helping to identify the compromise position between the social partners. 

More recently there has been a qualitative evolution in the European social dialogue towards 
greater autonomy. This is reflected partly by the social partners' increasing adoption of joint 
work  programmes.  Another  indication  of  this  qualitative  shift  is  the  increasing  adoption  by 
the  social  partners  of  'new  generation'  texts,  which  are  characterised  by  the  fact  that  the 
European  social  partners  make  recommendations  to  their  members  and  the  social  partners 
undertake to follow them up at the national level. 

In spite of the achievements of the European social dialogue so far, in certain areas its impact 
could be improved. In particular, the significance and status of the European social partners' 
texts is not always easy to understand to those not directly involved in their dialogue, partly 
because  of  the  diversity  of  titles  and  formats  employed,  and  the  rather  loose  use  of 
terminology.  

The problem of the loose use of terminology by the social partners was first identified by the 
Commission in its Communication of June 2002,8 in which it called on the social partners to 
endeavour  to  clarify  the  terms  used  to  describe  their  contributions  and  to  reserve  the  term 
'agreement'  for  texts  implemented  in  accordance  with  the  procedures  laid  down  in  Article 
139(2) of the Treaty. Indeed the term 'agreement' has been employed in a very general way in 
the  past.  For  example,  it  has  been  used  for  texts  aimed  at  setting  up  social  dialogue 

8 

COM(2002) 341final. 

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13 

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committees, as well as texts which essentially make recommendations, rather than being real 
'agreements'.  Equally  there  are  some  texts  which  might  arguably  qualify  as  'agreements'  or 
other types of new generation texts, but which have weaker titles. 

The impact of some of the European social partners' initiatives, especially the new generation 
texts,  many  of  which  address  the  Lisbon  themes,  could  be  improved  by  including  more 
detailed follow-up and reporting provisions. At present these range from precise examples 
explaining how, through which structures and at which intervals the text will be evaluated, to 
much vaguer provisions, with the social partners simply undertaking to regularly discuss the 
follow-up given, or undertaking to follow it up but without giving any indication as to how 
often.  Some  texts  include  no  follow-up  provisions  at  all.  Imprecise  terminology,  as  well  as 
failure to clarify all aspects of the follow-up of texts in negotiations, can result in difficulties 
when it comes to implementing them in practice. 

Some  promising  developments  include  the  cross-industry  social  partners'  Framework  of 
actions on the lifelong development of competencies and qualifications and the sugar sector's 
Code of conduct on corporate social responsibility in the sugar industry. Both include clear 
follow-up provisions and have produced their follow-up reports to schedule. Initiatives have 
recently  been  undertaken  in  the  textile  &  clothing,  leather  &  tanning  sectors  to  implement 
their codes of conduct, and social partners in the agriculture sector are undertaking initiatives 
to follow-up their agreement on vocational training. 

__________ 

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Annex 2: Typology of the results of European social dialogue 

With a view to assisting understanding of the various social dialogue instruments and helping 
the  social  partners  to  improve  transparency,  the  following  typology  identifies  four  broad 
categories,  each  of  which  has  sub-categories:  agreements  implemented  in  accordance  with 
Article  139(2);  process-oriented  texts;  joint  opinions  and  tools;  and  procedural  texts.  The 
social partners are encouraged to draw on this typology when drafting their texts in the future. 

The new generation texts, which the social partners seek to follow-up themselves, fall within 
the first two categories, namely autonomous agreements and process-oriented texts. 

It should be pointed out that the loose use of terminology makes it difficult to categorise some 
of the texts and some overlap categories. 

I. 

Agreements implemented in accordance with Article 139(2): minimum standards 

The  texts  in  this  category  establish  minimum  standards  and  entail  the  implementation  of 
certain commitments by a given deadline. Article 139(2) makes it clear that two main types of 
agreement  fall  within  this  category,  the  main  difference  relating  to  the  method  of 
implementation foreseen. 

Agreements implemented in accordance with Article 139(2): minimum standards 

Type of agreement 

Examples 

Agreements implemented by Council decision 

Implemented  by  Council  decision,  monitored  by  the 
Commission 

–  Framework agreement on parental leave, 1995 
–  Framework agreement on part-time work, 1997 
–  Framework agreement on fixed-term work, 1999 
–  European  agreement  on  the  organisation  of  working 

time of seafarers, 1998 

–  European  agreement  on  the  organisation  of  working 

time of mobile workers in civil aviation, 2000 

agreements 

Autonomous 
the 
procedures  and  practices  specific  to  management  and 
labour and the Member States  

implemented 

by 

Implementation and monitoring by the social partners 

–  European agreement on certain aspects of the working 
to 
of  mobile  workers 

conditions 
interoperable cross-border services, 20049 
–  Framework agreement on telework, 2002 
–  Framework agreement on work-related, stress, 200410 
–  Agreement  on  the  European  licence  for  drivers 
carrying  out  a  cross-border  interoperability  service, 
2004 

assigned 

Agreements implemented by Council decision 

The first kind of agreement consists of those which are implemented at the joint request of the 
signatory parties by a Council decision (in practice so far by Council directives) on a proposal 
from the Commission. This category includes the three cross-industry framework agreements 
on parental leave, part-time work and fixed-term contracts, as well as the maritime transport 
and civil aviation sector agreements on working time, and the railway sector agreement on the 
working  conditions  of  mobile  workers  assigned  to  cross-border  interoperable  services.  The 
three  cross-industry  framework  agreements  were  negotiated  as  a  result  of  a  Commission 

9 
10 

Implementation by Council decision requested at the time of publication. 
Formal adoption pending at the time of publication. 

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15 

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consultation under Article 138, whereas the sectoral agreements make use of the space left to 
the social partners by a directive11 to adapt the Community provisions to the specific needs of 
the sector. 

The  responsibility  for  ensuring  that  agreements  implemented  by  Council  decision  are 
transposed and implemented lies with the Member States, even in cases where the provisions 
are  implemented  through  collective  bargaining  by  the  social  partners.  Responsibility  for 
monitoring  these  agreements  lies  with  the  Commission,  although  the  social  partners  are 
systematically consulted on the implementation reports.12 

Autonomous agreements 

With  regard  to  the  second  type  of  agreement  –  those  implemented  in  accordance  with  the 
procedures and practices specific to management and labour and the Member States - it is the 
social  partners  themselves  who  are  responsible  for  implementing  and  monitoring  these 
agreements.  The  Framework  agreement  on  telework  of  July  2002  is  the  first  cross-industry 
example of this type of agreement and was the result of an Article 138 consultation. In May 
2004 the cross-industry social partners concluded their second agreement of this type on the 
topic  of  work-related  stress,  which  was  also  the  result  of  an  Article  138  consultation. 
However at the time of publication the agreement had not yet been formally approved. 

Effective implementation and monitoring is important in the case of agreements of this kind, 
particularly  if  they  have  been  negotiated  subsequent  to  a  Commission  consultation  under 
Article  138.  Article  139(2)  states  that  the  Community  level  agreements  "shall  be 
implemented" (emphasis added), which implies that there is an obligation to implement these 
agreements  and  for  the  signatory  parties  to  exercise  influence  on  their  members  in  order  to 
implement the European agreement. 

II. 

Process-oriented texts 

This category consists of a variety of joint texts which are implemented in a more incremental 
and process-oriented way than agreements. In these texts the European social partners make 
recommendations  of  various  kinds  to  their  members  for  follow-up,  and  they  should  involve 
regular evaluation of the progress made towards achieving their objectives in order to ensure 
they  have  a  real  impact.  The  implementation  of  some  aspects  of  these  texts  may  require 
cooperation with national public authorities.  

Texts of this kind can be useful in areas in which legislation at European level may not be the 
most  appropriate  solution,  often  because  of  the  complex  and  diverse  array  of  measures 
already in place in Member States, but in which the social partners may nevertheless have an 
interest in working together. They can also assist the exchange of good practice and mutual 
learning. Such texts sometimes help to prepare the ground for future Community legislation. 

There are three main types of instrument falling within this category. 

11 

12 

In this instance Directive 93/104/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time (OJ 
L 307, 13.12.1993). 
The ETUC's European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) has produced its own implementation reports on 
the parental leave, part-time and fixed-term work agreements through its NETLEX network of national 
legal  experts.  The  agreement  on  working  time  in  civil  aviation  and  the  agreement  on  working 
conditions  in  the  railway  sector  indicate  that  the  social  partners  will  undertake  evaluations  of  the 
implementation of these agreements. 

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Frameworks of action 

Frameworks of action consist of the identification of certain policy priorities towards which 
the national social partners undertake to work. These priorities serve as benchmarks and the 
social partners report annually on the action taken to follow-up these texts. 

Guidelines and codes of conduct 

Guidelines and codes of conduct make recommendations and/or provide guidelines to national 
affiliates  concerning  the  establishment  of  standards  or  principles.  In  some  cases  these  are 
intended to serve as principles or minimum European standards to be implemented at national 
or company level. In other cases they seek to promote higher standards than those provided 
for in existing legislation. This category also includes codes of conduct intended to promote 
the implementation in companies' supply chains of existing internationally agreed standards in 
the area of labour law established by international conventions. The content of some of these 
codes of conduct goes beyond the core ILO conventions. 

Policy orientations 

This sub-category refers to texts in which the social partners pursue a proactive approach to 
promoting  certain  policies  among  their  members.  The  texts  explain  how  these  will  be 
promoted  (e.g.  collection  and  exchange  of  good  practice,  awareness-raising  activities)  and 
how the social partners undertake to assess the follow-up given and its impact. 

Process-oriented texts 

Type of text 

Examples13 

Frameworks  of  action  -  working  towards 
common priorities  

Framework of actions on the lifelong development of competencies 
and qualifications, 2002 

Follow-up and annual reporting by the social 
partners 

Guidelines,  codes  of  conduct  -  establishing 
standards or principles 

Regular follow-up and reporting by the social 
partners 

Establishing new European standards or principles: 

–  Recommendation framework agreement on the improvement of 

paid employment in agriculture, 1997* 

–  Agreement  on  promoting  employment  in  the  postal  sector  in 

Europe, 1998 

–  Guidelines on telework in telecommunications, 2001 
–  European  agreement  on  guidelines  on  telework  in  commerce, 

2001 

–  Code of conduct – Guidelines for European hairdressers, 2001 
–  Voluntary  guidelines  supporting  age  diversity  in  commerce, 

2002 
– 
Joint declaration on lifelong learning in the banking sector, 2002 
–  European agreement on vocational training in agriculture, 2002* 
–  Code of conduct on CSR in the European sugar industry, 2003 
–  Code of conduct and ethics for the private security sector, 2003 
–  Electricity sector joint declaration on telework, 2003 
–  Local & regional government joint statement on telework, 2004 
–  Statement on promoting employment and integration of disabled 

people in the commerce and distribution sector, 2004 

13 

Some  of  these  texts  do  not  include  detailed  provisions  on  follow-up  and  reporting,  but  have  been 
included because they consist of recommendations to the members of the signatory organisations. 

EN 

17 

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–  Guidelines  for  customer  contact  centres  (telecommunications), 

2004 

Promoting and enforcing existing internationally agreed standards: 

–  Code of conduct on child labour in the footwear sector, 1996 
–  Code of conduct for the European textile/clothing sector, 1997 
–  Agreement  on  Fundamental  Rights  and  Principles  at  Work,  in 

the commerce sector, 1999 

–  Code of conduct in the leather and tanning sector, 2000 
–  Code of conduct in the footwear sector, 2000 
–  Code  of  Conduct  –  A  Charter  for  the  social  partners  in  the 

– 

European woodworking industry, 2002 
Joint  recommendation  on  apprenticeship  in  the  sugar  sector, 
1998 
–  Electricity 

declaration 

sector 

equal 

joint 

on 

opportunities/diversity, 2003 

–  Orientations  for  reference  in  managing  change  and  its  social 

– 

consequences, 2003 (cross-industry social partners) 
Joint  Statement  on  Corporate  Social  Responsibility 
commerce, 2003 

in 

–  Common  recommendations  of  the  European  social  partners  for 

the cleaning industry, 2004 

Policy orientations – the proactive promotion 
of policies 

Regular follow-up and reporting by the social 
partners 

* Although these texts are referred to as 'agreements', they have been included in this category as their provisions appear to 
consist  mainly  of  recommendations  to  their  members  and  do  not  include  a  date  by  which  implementation  of  the  various 
objectives must be accomplished.  

III. 

Joint opinions and tools: Exchange of information 

This  category  consists  of  social  partner  texts  and  tools  which  contribute  to  exchanging 
information,  either  upwards  from  the  social  partners  to  the  European  institutions  and/or 
national  public  authorities,  or  downwards,  by  explaining  the  implications  of  EU  policies  to 
national  members.  The  instruments  in  this  category  do  not  entail  any  implementation, 
monitoring or follow-up provisions. 

Joint opinions 

This category includes the majority of social partner texts adopted over the years such as their 
joint  opinions  and  joint  statements,  which  are  generally  intended  to  provide  input  to  the 
European institutions and/or national public authorities. These include texts which respond to 
consultation  documents, 
a  Community 
Communications),  which  adopt  a  joint  position  with  regard  to  a  given  Community  policy, 
which  explicitly  ask  the  Commission  to  adopt  a  particular  stance,  or  which  ask  the 
Commission to undertake studies or other actions. 

and  white  papers, 

consultation 

(green 

Declarations 

This category refers to texts which are essentially declarations – usually directed at the social 
partners themselves - outlining future work and activities which the social partners intend to 
undertake (e.g. the organisation of seminars, roundtables, etc). 

Tools 

This category refers to the tools developed by the social partners, such as guides and manuals 
providing  practical  advice  to  employees  and  companies  on  subjects  such  as  vocational 
training,  health  and  safety  and  public  procurement,  often  with  the  assistance  of  Community 
grants. These can make a very practical contribution at the grass-roots level, for example by 

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18 

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helping to explain the implications of EU legislation on certain topics, or helping to exchange 
knowledge of good practice. 

Joint opinions and tools 

Type of instrument 

Examples14 

Joint opinions 

Declarations 

Tools 

–  Position on training and continuing training (mines), 2003 
– 

legislation 

the  European  harmonisation  of 

Joint  declaration  on 
governing the private security sector, 2001 
Joint declaration on the objectives of the European directive on private 
agency work (temporary work sector), 2001 
Joint opinion of the European social partners in aviation, 2001 
Joint declaration on the social partners of the cleaning industry and EU 
enlargement, 2000 
Joint statement and final report on the study on life-long learning in the 
electricity sector, 2003 

– 

– 
– 

– 

–  Selecting best value – A guide for organisations awarding contracts for 

cleaning services (cleaning industry) 

–  Training Kit of Basic Office Cleaning Techniques (cleaning industry) 
–  European  Vocational  Training  Manual  for  Basic  Guarding  (private 

security) 

–  Brochure on tutoring in the construction industry, 2004 
–  Website of the postal sector social dialogue committee, 2003 

IV. 

Procedural texts 

This final category consists of texts which seek to lay down the rules for the bipartite dialogue 
between the parties. This includes the cross-industry social partners' Agreement of 31 October 
1991,  which  made  proposals  for  the  revision  of  the  policy-making  procedures  in  the  EC 
Treaty in the social policy field. These proposals were incorporated virtually verbatim into the 
Treaty on European Union by the Intergovernmental Conference of 1991. This category also 
includes the social partner texts which determine the rules of procedure for the sectoral social 
dialogue committees. 

__________ 

14 

This list is not exhaustive and only provides a few examples. 

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Annex 3: Drafting checklist for new generation social partner texts 

•  Clearly  indicate  to  whom  they  or  the  various  provisions  are  addressed,  e.g.  the 
Commission,  other  European  Union  institutions,  national  public  authorities,  social 
partners; 

•  Indicate the status and purpose of the text clearly; 

•  Where applicable, indicate the deadline by which the provisions should be implemented; 

•  Indicate clearly how the text will be implemented and promoted at national level, including 

whether or not it should be implemented in a binding fashion in all cases; 

•  Indicate clearly through which structures the monitoring/reporting will be undertaken, and 

the purpose of the reports at different stages; 

•  Indicate when and/or at which intervals monitoring/reporting will take place; 

•  Specify the procedures to be followed for dispute settlement (e.g. disagreements over the 

interpretation of the meaning of the text); 

•  Be dated; 

•  Be signed; 

•  Agreements should include an annex listing the members of the signatory parties at whom 

the text is directed; 

•  Indicate which language(s) is/are the original. 

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Annex 4: The sectoral social dialogue committees 

Sectors 

Agriculture 

Audiovisual 

Banking 

Civil aviation 

Cleaning industry 

Commerce 

Construction 

Electricity 

Footwear 

Furniture 

Horeca 

Inland waterways 

Insurance 

Live performance 

regional 

& 
Local 
government 

Mines 

Personal services 

Postal services 

Private security 

Railways 

Road transport 

Sea fishing 

Sea transport 

Shipbuilding 

Sugar 

Tanning and leather 

Telecommunications 

Temporary work 

Textile and clothing 

Woodworking 

Employees' organisations 

Employers' organisations 

Date of creation 

EFFAT 

GEOPA/COPA 

EFJ, EURO-MEI, FIA, FIM  

UNI-Europa 

ECA, ETF 

UNI-Europa 

UNI-Europa 

EFBWW 

EMCEF, EPSU 

ETUF:TCL 

EFBWW 

EFFAT 

ETF 

ACT, AER, CEPI, EBU, 
FIAPF 

EACB, ESBG, FBE  

ACI EUROPE, AEA, CANSO, 
ERA, IACA 

EFCI 

EuroCommerce 

FIEC 

EURELECTRIC 

CEC 

UEA 

HOTREC 

EBU, ESO 

UNI-Europa 

ACME, BIPAR, CEA 

EAEA 

EPSU 

EMCEF 

UNI-Europa 

UNI-Europa 

UNI-Europa 

ETF 

ETF 

ETF 

ETF 

EMF 

EFFAT 

ETUF:TCL 

UNI-Europa 

UNI-Europa 

ETUF:TCL 

EFBWW 

PEARLE 

CEMR 

APEP, Euracoal, Euromines, 
IMA 

EU Coiffure 

PostEurop 

CoESS 

CER 

IRU 

EUROPECHE/COGECA 

ECSA 

CESA 

CEFS 

COTANCE 

ETNO 

Euro CIETT 

EURATEX 

CEI-Bois 

1999 

2004 

1999 

2000 

1999 

1999 

1999 

2000 

1999 

2001 

1999 

1999 

1999 

1999 

2004 

2002 

1999 

1999 

1999 

1999 

1999 

1999 

1999 

2003 

1999 

2001 

1999 

2000 

1999 

2000 

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Annex  5:  List  of  European  social-partner  organisationsconsulted  under  Article  138  of 

the EC Treaty 

1. 

General cross-industry organisations 

–  European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation and of Enterprises of General 

Economic Interest (CEEP) 

–  European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) 
–  Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe (UNICE) 

2. 

Cross-industry  organisations 
undertakings 

representing  certain  categories  of  workers  or 

–  Eurocadres 
–  European Association of Craft and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (UEAPME) 
–  European Confederation of Executives and Managerial Staff (CEC) 

3. 

Specific organisations 

–  Eurochambres 

4. 

Sectoral organisations representing employers 

–  Airports Council International – Europe (ACI EUROPE) 
–  Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT) 
–  Association of European Airlines (AEA)  
–  Association of European Cooperative and Mutual Insurers (ACME) 
–  Association of European Public Postal Operators (PostEurop) 
–  Association of European Radios (AER) 
–  Association of National Organisations of Fishing Enterprises in the EU (EUROPECHE) 
–  Civil Air Navigation Services Association (CANSO)  
–  Committee of Agricultural Organisations in the European Union (COPA)  
–  Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) 
–  Community of European Shipyards' Associations (CESA) 
–  Confederation of National Associations of Tanners and Dressers of the European 

Community (COTANCE) 

–  Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) 
–  Employers' Group of the Committee of Agricultural Organisations in the European Union 

(GEOPA) 
–  Euracoal 
–  Euromines  
–  European Apparel and Textile Organisation (EURATEX) 
–  European Association of Cooperative Banks (EACB) 
–  European Association of Potash Producers (APEP) 
–  European Banking Federation (FBE) 
–  European Barge Union (EBU) 
–  European Broadcasting Union (EBU) 
–  European Committee of Sugar Manufacturers (CEFS) 
–  European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) 
–  European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC) 
–  European Confederation of Hairdressing employers' organisations (EU Coiffure) 
–  European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI–Bois) 
–  European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) 
–  European Coordination of Independent Producers (CEPI)  
–  European Federation of Cleaning Industries (EFCI) 
–  European Federation of National Insurance Associations (CEA) 

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22 

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–  European Federation of Security Services (CoESS) 
–  European Furniture Manufacturers’ Federation (UEA)  
–  European Industrial Minerals Association (IMA) 
–  European Regions Airline Association (ERA) 
–  European Savings Banks Group (ESBG)  
–  European Skippers' Organisation (ESO) 
–  European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO) 
–  General Committee for Agricultural Cooperation in the European Union (COGECA) 
–  Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés in Europe (HOTREC) 
–  International Air Carrier Association (IACA)  
–  International Confederation of Temporary Work Businesses (Euro CIETT) 
–  International Federation of Film Producers' Associations (FIAPF) 
–  International Federation of Insurance Intermediaries (BIPAR) 
–  International Road Transport Union (IRU) 
–  Performing Arts Employers’ Associations League Europe (PEARLE) 
–  Retail, Wholesale and International Trade Representation to the EU (EuroCommerce) 
–  Union of the Electricity Industry (EURELECTRIC) 

5. 

European trade union organisations 

–  European Arts and Entertainment Alliance (EAEA) 
–  European Cockpit Association (ECA) 
–  European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) 
–  European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) 
–  European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) 
–  European Federation of Trade Unions in the Food, Agriculture and Tourism Sectors and 

Allied Branches (EFFAT) 

–  European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) 
–  European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers’ Federation (EMCEF) 
–  European Trade Union Federation: Textiles, Clothing and Leather (ETUF:TCL) 
–  European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) 
–  International Federation of Actors (FIA) 
–  International Federation of Musicians (IFM) 
–  Union Network International – Europe (UNI–Europa)  
–  Union Network International – Media and Entertainment International – Europe (EURO-

MEI) 

–  European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE)* 

The list will be adapted as new sectoral social dialogue committees are set up and/or in the light of the 
study on representativeness. 

* Organisations affiliated to ETUC receiving copies of information. 

__________ 

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