Social partners

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.

• EUR-Lex: Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
• EUR-Lex: Communication from the Commission on more efficient decision-making in social policy: Identification of areas for an enhance move to qualified majority voting
• European Commission: The European Semester
• EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) No 1175/2011 on the strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary positions and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies
• European Commission: Consultations of the social partners
• ETUC: European social dialogue – Work programme 2019–2021

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.

• EUR-Lex: Council Decision (EU) 2018/1215 on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States
• European Commission: The European Pillar of Social Rights in 20 principles