CENTRAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL

The Council was set up under the Organization of the Economy Act of September 20, 1948. It is composed of delegates from the representative employers' associations and trade unions, plus six independent experts. It is presided over by an independent Chairperson. The Council has the task of submitting to the government and/or Parliament, at their request or on its own initiative, formal opinions on issues relating to the national economy. Under the provisions of the 1989 Preservation of the Country's Competitiveness Act, the Central Economic Council is required to issue twice per year a report and an opinion on the competitiveness of Belgian enterprises. These documents serve as a basis for negotiations between the government and the social partners and where necessary, if the social partners fail to take adequate measures through collective agreements, as a basis for the government, in common accord with Parliament, to take the necessary measures to preserve or restore competitiveness. See collective bargaining .