Dear President von der Leyen,
The Communication on Strengthening social dialogue in the European Union: harnessing its full potential for managing fair transitions of 25 January 2022, states, amongst others, that the Commission will launch a process to review the organisation of sectoral social dialogue committees, including a possible revision of the 1998 Decision, in close cooperation with social partners.
While we look forward to starting such a review process, we have concerns that it might not match the Communication ambitions to further strengthen EU social dialogue and that it might lead to a weakening of the Commission’s support as the reality over the past decade has sadly shown: fewer meetings, lesser political engagement in meetings, unclear consultation processes, cumbersome administrative process towards social partner agreements, to name just a few incremental, unilateral negative changes.
Yet, it is our strong view that the Commission’s current institutional and financial role should be enhanced.
The Commission’s obligation to support social dialogue as set out in the Treaty is well reflected in the new Communication, which states that “Social dialogue is a cornerstone of the European social model” – “Strong social partners are essential for effective and balanced change management” – “Social partners’ involvement improves policy-making and law-making” – “The EU promotes the role of social partners and urges better social dialogue” – “The efforts to address the challenges [of national social dialogue] need to be redoubled at national level to harness all the benefits of social dialogue”.
The Commission further states that:
• European sectoral social dialogues cover more than 80% of the EU’s workforce. This provides legitimacy and lead to concrete outcomes at national level, We would add that with its 80% coverage, European sectoral social dialogues are essential for building national social partners’ capacity and thus for improving the collective bargaining coverage.
• Each year European sectoral social partners adopt between 30 and 50 joint positions on a wide range of topics.
• It looks at an enhanced role of the sectoral social dialogues in EU-policymaking.
• It commits to engage with the social partners in the modernisation of the framework for EU sectoral social dialogue to enhance its relevance and effectiveness.
Indeed, as the Communication recognises that social dialogue is a priority for the EU Commission and stresses its role in shaping and delivering fair green and digital transitions and crisis management, we expect the Commission to maintain both its logistical and financial support for sectoral social dialogue committees and enhance its political support. However, the current proposal presented by the EU Commission will not create the necessary conditions for sustainable social dialogue and therefore threatens the mere existence of some SSDCs. Under these circumstances, we request the Commission to come up with a proposal which maintains its responsibility.
As social partners, it is reminded that we are deemed experts in our respective sectors, and that coupled with our institutional role, we would expect greater support than the one the Commission grants to its numerous expert groups.
Finally, it is worth noting that the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee have both taken up the issue and are urging the Commission to maintain its logistical support for sectoral social dialogue committees and to enhance its financial, legal and political support.
In view of this important review, your strong commitment in favour of an effective social dialogue, and in continuity with the Nahles report to strengthen the social dialogue, we would like to have the opportunity to meet with you to discuss the role of the Commission in supporting the sectoral social dialogue.
Yours sincerely,
Copy: Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis
Commissioner Nicolas Schmit
Mirzha de Manuel, Cabinet of Vice President Dombrovskis
Ana Carla Pereira, Cabinet of Commissioner Schmit
Joost Korte, Director General, DG EMPL
Stephan Olsson, Deputy Director General, DG EMPL
Jorg Tagger, Head of Unit, Social Dialogue, DG EMPL
For the European trade unions’ organisations
European Arts & Entertainment Alliance
Benoît Machuel
General Secretary
EFBWW
Tom Deleu
General Secretary
EFFAT
Kristjan Bragason
General Secretary
EPSU
Jan Willem Goudriaan
General Secretary
ETF
Livia Spera
General Secretary
ETUCE
Susan Flocken
European Director
EUROCOP
Nigel Dennis
Head of Office
IndustriAll Europe
Luc Triangle
General Secretary
UNI Europa
Oliver Roethig
Regional Secretary
For the European employers’ organisations
AMICE
Sarah Goddard
Secretary General
BIPAR
Dominique Sizes
Chair
CEEMET
Delphine Rudelli
Director General
CEI-Bois
Silvia Melegari
Secretary General
CEMR
Fabrizio Rossi
Secretary General
CER
Dr. Alberto Mazzola
Executive Director
CoESS
Catherine Piana
Director General
Coiffure EU
Edel Kristin Teige
Chairwoman
EACB
Nina Schindler
Chief Executive Officer
EBF – Banking Committee for European Social Affairs
Jens Thau
Chairman
EBU
Theresia Hacksteiner
Secretary General
ECEG
Emma Argutyan
Director General
ECSA
Sotiris Raptis
Secretary General
EFCI
Matteo Matarazzo
Director General
EFEE
Daniel Wisniewski
General Secretary
EFIC
Gabriella Kemendi
Secretary General
European Regional Airlines
Montserrat Barriga
Director General
ESBG
Peter Simon
Managing Director
Eurelectric
Kristian Ruby
Secretary General
EuroCommerce
Christel Delberghe
Director General
Euromines
Rolf Kuby
Director General
Europêche
Daniel Voces de Onaíndi
Managing Director
FIEC
Domenico Campogrande
Director General
Geopa
Joseph Lechner
President
HOTREC
Marie Audren
Director General
Insurance Europe
Sebastian Hopfner
Chairman, Social Dialogue Platform
Pearle* – Live Performance Europe
Anita Debaere
Director
UITP Europe
Thomas Avanzata
Spokesperson of the European Union Committee
World Employment Confederation-Europe
Denis Pennel
Managing Direct