At the Val Duchesse Social Partner Summit of 31 January 2024,the European Commission, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and European social partners signed a ‘Tripartite Declaration for a Thriving European Social Dialogue’.
The Declaration stands for a renewed commitment to strengthen social dialogue at EU level and to join forces in addressing key challenges in our economies and labour markets.
To promote and strengthen the role of social dialogue at European and national level, a dedicated European Social Dialogue Envoy will be established within the European Commission.
The Declaration also initiats a process towards a Pact for European Social Dialogue. A series of tripartite and bipartite meetings with the European Social partners will be undertaken to identify new proposals to reinforce European Social Dialogue. The aim is to conclude the Pact by early 2025.
2023 Social Dialogue Initiative
On 25 January 2023, the Commission presented an initiative to further strengthen and promote social dialogue with concrete actions at national and EU level.
In its proposal for a Council Recommendation the Commission set out how EU countries can further strengthen social dialogue and collective bargaining at national level.
The Council Recommendation was adopted on 12 June 2023.
The Commission also presented a Communication with concrete measures on reinforcing and promoting social dialogue at EU level.