On 25 January 2023, the European Commission presented a proposal for a recommendation comprising a series of measures to encourage the EU Member States to strengthen social dialogue at national level. The EU Commission also published a communication listing future initiatives to reinforce and promote European social dialogue, while employers continue to block several of them.
While not legally binding, the EU Commission’s recommendation has been long in the waiting for European workers’ federations. Trade union membership is gradually declining across Europe, as is the rate of collective bargaining coverage (66% in 2000 compared to 56% in 2019), and this despite several support mechanisms. Social dialogue plays a “key role” in finding “balanced solutions to the changes in the world of work brought about by digital and climate transitions and new forms of employment”, says the EU Commission.
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Article authors
Antoine Piel
Section Head at Mind HR