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Social partners

‘Social partners’ is a term generally used in Europe to refer to representatives of management and labour (employer organisations and trade unions), and in some contexts public authorities, that engage in social dialogue. The term ‘European social partners’ specifically refers to those organisations at EU level which are engaged in European social dialogue, provided for under Articles 154 and 155 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The social partners play a key role in the governance of the employment relationship, and are key actors in industrial relation systems. In most EU Member States, they shape working conditions and influence social policy, either through collective bargaining or tripartite social dialogue. They are interlocking parts in a multilevel system of governance that includes the European, national, sectoral, regional (provincial or local), company and establishment levels. 

Topic

Recent updates

Eurofound research

Eurofound investigates and reports on developments concerning the social partners, and research examines how they have responded in the EU Member States, the UK and Norway to the many new political, legal and social challenges that have arisen in recent years.

Trade unions

Eurofound provides comparative research and articles on the main European trade unions, their memberships, organisational densities, mandates, strategies, what they offer to their members, and many more aspects of their operation.

Employer organisations

Comparative research and articles are available on the main European employer organisations, their memberships, organisational densities, mandates, strategies and other aspects of their operation.

Involvement in policymaking

Eurofound also looks at the involvement of the national social partners in the design and implementation of reforms and policies, both in national policymaking and in the context of the European Semester and the elaboration of the National Reform Programmes.

Role of social partners in the just transition

Eurofound research investigates the involvement of the social partners in the just transition to a climate-neutral economy. It focuses on their input in shaping the territorial just transition plans designed to protect vulnerable regions that are carbon intensive or where most of employment depends on fossil fuels. An analysis of social dialogue practices and examples of collective agreements shows the range of topics covered by the social partners. 

Policy responses

Eurofound’s EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and rising inflation including the role of the social partners in the design and implementation of the various measures in the Member States.

EU-level sectoral social partners and representativeness

European sectoral social dialogue has been slowly developing since the establishment of sectoral social dialogue committees in 1998. As of 2018, there are 43 such committees. Since 2006, Eurofound has had a mandate to carry out representativeness studies of the EU-level sectoral social partner organisations to identify the representative actors to be consulted. These studies are the most extensive mapping of sector-related employer organisations and trade unions across Europe. Research also compares the different ways in which the representativeness of social partners is defined at national, European and international levels.

Key outputs

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This report assesses the role of the social partners in tackling workplace discrimination. Against the background of EU and national anti-discrimination legislation, it highlights the extent to which the need...

31 august 2020
Publication
Customised report
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The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of individuals and societies, including on the economy and labour markets, is unprecedented. The impact of the global health emergency has...

24 juuni 2020
Publication
Research report
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European sectoral social dialogue plays an important role in promoting dialogue between the social partners in industrial sectors at European level. There are currently 43 European sectoral social dialogue committees...

6 detsember 2019
Publication
Research report

EU context

The TFEU recognises and promotes the role of the social partners at EU level and documents the EU’s commitment to facilitate dialogue between the social partners, respecting their autonomy. This recognition is illustrated by the adoption of the multiannual work programmes of the social partners. In these programmes, the social partners themselves set their priorities and negotiation agenda and decide on the appropriate instruments for social dialogue.

Over the years, there has been increased recognition of the role of the EU-level social partners by the European institutions. This is reflected, for example, in the establishment of an annual tripartite social summit between the European Council, the European Commission and the social partners, enabling the latter to contribute, in the context of their social dialogue, to the various components of the economic and social governance of the EU. The main cross-industry organisations representing the social partners at EU level are:

  • the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
  • the Confederation of European Business (BusinessEurope)
  • the Association of Crafts and SMEs in Europe (SMEunited, formerly UEAPME)
  • the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services and Services of General Interest (CEEP)

The social partners play a prominent role in shaping EU social legislation. The Commission must consult the social partners before submitting proposals in the social policy field through a compulsory two-stage consultation procedure (Artilce 154 TFEU). Moreover, social partners can negotiate agreements that can be implemented either autonomously according to national practices, or be implemented at their request at EU level through a Council decision (Article 155 TFEU). To this extent, social partner agreements implemented at EU level have played a significant role in developing the EU social acquis.

In addition, the European institutional bodies view the two sides of industry as being key to the development of the European Semester, the cycle of economic and fiscal policy coordination within the EU. While the role of the social partners in the Semester is not clearly set out in the legislative framework, their participation has been recognised and strengthened in Regulation 1175/2011 on the surveillance of budgetary positions and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies. The revamped European Semester, initiated in 2015, allows more time for dialogue and greater involvement of the social partners at all levels.

National context

Social partners are core stakeholders who can assess policy needs and contribute to policy formation and to designing and implementing national reforms in the social and employment fields. This role and the need to involve the social partners in policymaking have been acknowledged in Guideline 7 of Council Decision 2018/1215 for the employment policies of the Member States, as well as in Principle 8 of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

 

Publications results (191)

This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the road transport sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participat

05 December 2024

This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the professional postal and courier activities sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their

29 November 2024

Multistakeholder partnerships are essential to ensure that the green transition is not only environmentally sound and economically viable but also socially just. This policy brief investigates how relevant actors (national and regional authorities, the social partners and civil society organisations

02 September 2024

This publication comprises individual country reports on developments in working life in each of the 27 EU Member States and Norway in 2023, based on national research and survey results. The topics covered include the political context in 2023; updates on the social partners and social dialogue ins

26 July 2024

Three years after the adoption of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), this report reviews the quality of the social partners’ involvement in 2023 in the ongoing implementation of reforms and investments funded by that initiative. It also examines the quality of their involvement in the prepa

26 February 2024

This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the furniture sector.

08 December 2023

Previous Eurofound research developed three complementary tools to examine the dynamics of industrial relations and compare how national industrial relations systems are faring in terms of quality and change over time.

05 December 2023

This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the woodworking sector.

21 November 2023

This study provides information to allow for an assessment of the representativeness of the national and supranational social partners at cross-industry level in the EU.

09 November 2023

This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the professional football sector.

26 October 2023

Online resources results (714)

Tripartite Exchange Seminar 2024: The role of social dialogue in a green just transition

Explore our digital summary of the discussion during the Tripartite Exchange Seminar 2024. The TES 2024 is a joint initiative of four EU agencies – Cedefop, EEA, ETF and Eurofound – to put social dialogue at the heart of a green just transition in national and European social initiatives.

Working life in Cyprus

This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Cyprus. It aims to provide the relevant background information on the structures, institutions and relevant regulations regarding working life.

Working life in Czechia

This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Czechia. It aims to provide the relevant background information on the structures, institutions and relevant regulations regarding working life.

Working life in Croatia

This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Croatia. It aims to provide the relevant background information on the structures, institutions and relevant regulations regarding working life.

Working life in Bulgaria

This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Bulgaria. It aims to provide the relevant background information on the structures, institutions and relevant regulations regarding working life.

Working life in Austria

This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Austria. It aims to provide the relevant background information on the structures, institutions and relevant regulations regarding working life.

Working life in Belgium

This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Belgium. It aims to provide the relevant background information on the structures, institutions and relevant regulations regarding working life.

Working life in Spain

This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Spain. It aims to provide the relevant background information on the structures, institutions, actors and relevant regulations regarding working life.

Working life in Finland

This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Finland. It aims to provide the relevant background information on the structures, institutions and relevant regulations regarding working life.

Working life in Germany

This profile describes the key characteristics of working life in Germany. It aims to provide the relevant background information on the structures, institutions, actors and relevant regulations regarding working life.


Blogs results (2)
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With the arrival of the month of May, the 2022 European Semester Spring Package is anticipated soon. After a transformative year in 2021, which saw the launch of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) under NextGenerationEU, the European Semester cycle has resumed its role as the reference frame

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The new European Commission (EC) under President Jean-Claude Juncker is committed to re-launching social dialogue and a first step was taken with the organisation of a high-level conference in Brussels on 5 March. The aim of the conference was to discuss concrete ways to strengthen social dialogue w

20 aprill 2015
Upcoming publications results (5)

This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the graphical industry. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation

July 2025

This report reviews the quality of the national social partners’ involvement in the implementation of the reforms and investments shaping the digital and green transition in the context of national policymaking. These reforms and investments stem mainly from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

March 2025

This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the extractive industries sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective par

December 2024

This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the construction sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participatio

December 2024

This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the chemical sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in

December 2024
Data results (9)

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