EESC calls for enhanced social dialogue in the EU
In the EESC's view, the lessons learnt from previous crises indicate that prompt social partner involvement and political support from the authorities are among the key factors for successfully dealing with the immediate consequences of a crisis. Based on that, the EESC lists below several recommendations for sound post-pandemic management in the near future:active social partner involvement in designing and implementing national recovery plans to enhance the quality of policy design, engage social partners in implementation and build trust;better cooperation between the social partners and the European Commission in ensuring the consistent use of European resources on the basis of medium- to long-term planning;specific action, including an ad hoc temporary financial instrument to support social partners' capacity-building needs and help manage the consequences of the pandemic;sound corporate governance, including in restructuring processes resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, based on social dialogue, collective bargaining and respect for workers' rights to information, consultation and participation, which can make it possible to meet positive economic targets, as well as social and environmental goals. Social dialogue is a pillar of the European social model that can be used to swiftly respond to crises and deal with their consequences.
- active social partner involvement in designing and implementing national recovery plans to enhance the quality of policy design, engage social partners in implementation and build trust;
- better cooperation between the social partners and the European Commission in ensuring the consistent use of European resources on the basis of medium- to long-term planning;
- specific action, including an ad hoc temporary financial instrument to support social partners' capacity-building needs and help manage the consequences of the pandemic;
- sound corporate governance, including in restructuring processes resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, based on social dialogue, collective bargaining and respect for workers' rights to information, consultation and participation, which can make it possible to meet positive economic targets, as well as social and environmental goals.
- Social dialogue is a pillar of the European social model that can be used to swiftly respond to crises and deal with their consequences.
- Yet in many countries it is still fragmented and takes place only occasionally The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) threw its support behind fostering effective social dialogue in EU Member States as it plays a key role in shaping economic, labour and social policies that create better living and working conditions across the EU.
- The opinion, drafted at the request of the German EU Presidency, aims to give an overview of the practice of social dialogue in the Member States, examining it in the context of past crises.
- However, to be effective, social dialogue must include representative and legitimate social partners as well as the governments committed to engaging in it.
- European social dialogue is an inalienable component of the European social model and is enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, supported by EU legislation and recognised in the European Pillar of Social Rights.
- If social dialogue played a stronger role in this area, this could help secure a consensus between workers and businesses.
- The European social model, which drives the competitiveness of European companies, is best promoted by sound corporate governance based on social dialogue, collective bargaining and respect for workers' rights to information, consultation and participation.