In Brief

CEC as a Social Partner

Since 1985, the European social dialogue appears in the Treaty of the European Communities and is a key element of the European social model. At national levels, it is complementary to the social dialogue and industrial relations and participates in the social policy of the EU, contributing to the definition of the Community social standards. Under the European social dialogue, European social partners are consulted before the drafting of legislative proposals in the social community. The also have the right to negotiate agreements that can then be transposed into European law or implemented by the social partners themselves. Beyond the formal procedures in the EU Treaty, social partners establish their own agenda, in which they choose to tackle issues of common interest.

The European social dialogue takes two main forms: a bipartite social dialogue between European employers and trade-unions; and a tripartite dialogue between social partners and the European institutions.

CEC is an independent organisation in the employees’ delegation, together with ETUC and Eurocadres. CEC promotes and defends more specifically the interests of managers. Through its professional federations, CEC also takes part in the sectorial social dialogue.    <<< BACK