Dialogue with Social Partners and the European Commission: SGIs at the core of the EU brand of competitiveness

On Wednesday 16 October, SGI Europe and the EU cross-industry social partners exchanged with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President for an Economy that Works for People, and Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. In the context of the new legislative term and the priorities for the next European Commission, the meeting centred around the topic: “How to enhance the conditions for productive investment and quality jobs in Europe?”

Addressing the opening round, Pascal Bolo, SGI Europe President, said:

“There is an urgent need for investments to maintain the European competitiveness while SGI enterprises, which are at the heart of productivity, are undergoing major transitions.“

“We now have the opportunity to create a genuine European "brand" of competitiveness based on our strengths and values and compatible with our cohesion policy. Such competitiveness must feed local economies, be built with the support of SGIs, and rely on modern critical infrastructures. A first crucial step in that context should be the involvement of social partners in the conception of the Clean Industrial Deal, to ensure that the proposal is based on achievable targets and is deliverable on the ground.”

In the moderated discussion, Valeria Ronzitti, General Secretary, added:

“The preparation of the Quality Jobs Roadmap must involve social partners at its core to address the fair, green and digital transitions in a balanced way. Its main goal should be improving collective bargaining coverage and increasing labour market participation.

“The new initiatives of the European Commission should not come at the cost of undue complexity, increased compliance costs or reduced flexibility for enterprises in a context of high labour shortages. We currently lack a dedicated approach toward reducing the burden of SGI enterprises, which are pillars of the internal market and held the economy together during COVID-19.”

Together with its partners of the SGIs Network, SGI Europe also presented the following declaration.

(Photo: Copyright - European Union)