Social Dialogue package: A welcome new impetus for collective bargaining at the EU and national level

On 25 January 2023, the European Commission presented its initiative “Strengthening Social Dialogue”. Comprising a proposal for a Council recommendation and a communication, the package builds upon the 2016 quadripartite statement “A New Start for Social Dialogue” and renews the commitment to social dialogue as a cornerstone of the EU social market economy and its competitiveness. Being one of the cross-industry social partners, SGI Europe values this initiative and contributed to its inception through dedicated hearings with the European Commission.

Following the presentation, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, commented:

“SGI Europe welcomes the “Strengthening Social Dialogue” package published today. This initiative will help shape the future of the cooperation between EU institutions and social partners and give a new dynamic to social dialogue across Europe. More than ever, social dialogue and balanced relations between employers and trade unions must help the EU to weather the storm and preserve the fundamentals of its social market economic model.”

“Autonomous social dialogue greatly contributes to improving working conditions and competitiveness. The Council recommendation provides new tools to Member States to guarantee better structural support for social partners. This recommendation should provide a new impetus to national collective bargaining and structurally reinforce social partners across the EU.”

“Improving the quality of the outcomes of the EU social dialogue must be our common objective. SGI Europe will make full use of the new tools proposed, such as the social dialogue coordinators or the tripartite institutional hearings on important labour market issues. In the context of the review of the EU sectoral social dialogue, we call for the Commission to continue discussing with sectoral social partners to provide them with strong and sustainable support to achieve quality results.”

(European Union, 2023; Source: EC - Audiovisual Service)