European Economic and Social Committee
PRESS RELEASE No. 46/2005 / 15 April 2005Twenty years of European social dialogue: current situation and prospects
Jacques Delors: Social dialogue is a crucial element in preventing political disenchantment
The conference organised by the EESC on Twenty years of social dialogue: assessment and prospects was a major success, both in terms of the quality of the contributions and the number of participants.
At the event, Jacques Delors, former president of the European Commission and father of the European social dialogue, called for a revitalisation of social dialogue to combat political disenchantment, the personalisation of power and "the domination of the moment over memory and vision". Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, said that social dialogue is “the key aspect of the European social model" and "an essential tool for good governance".
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) conference revealed a feeling, broadly shared, that there had been a "slowdown" in social dialogue over recent years. The Commission was called on to revitalise the process, and the stakeholders in European social dialogue were urged to respond in more specific terms to citizens’ concerns on the problems of employment, fundamental labour rights, restructuring and relocation. Several participants pointed out that the necessary revitalisation of European social policy has to go hand-in-hand with a more ambitious and committed social dialogue. The discussions also clarified the differences between social dialogue and civil dialogue, and confirmed the role of the EESC as a bridge between civil society and the institutions.
The conference, organised at the EESC headquarters to celebrate twenty years of European social dialogue, brought together more than 250 participants.
Jacques Delors recommended a return to social dialogue and civil dialogue "to combat political disenchantment, the personalisation of power and the domination of the moment over memory and vision". In his opinion, "social dialogue needs to give everyone the capacity to control his or her own life, and to encourage equal opportunities".
EESC president Anne-Marie Sigmund called for development of the instruments and structures of social dialogue, which were crucial to its future success. She said it was in the common interest to develop the European social and economic model. The Commission, Member States, the social partners and the other components of organised civil society should all contribute to this partnership so that the Lisbon objectives could be achieved and the European model preserved and modernised.
EESC vice-president Roger Briesch pointed out that social dialogue is, above all, the social partners' responsibility. However, he stressed that the issue of participatory democracy has to be tackled more broadly: that is why the EESC actively cooperates with several European civil society networks in its Liaison Group.
Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, described social dialogue as “the key element of the European social model "and "an essential tool for good governance". "Europe cannot answer the challenges that it faces without social dialogue", he said. Mr Špidla called for a strengthening of dialogue not only between the European and national levels, but also between the inter-professional, sectoral and industry levels.
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The European Economic and Social Committee represents the various economic and social components of organised civil society. It is an institutional consultative body established by the 1957 Treaty of Rome. Its consultative role enables its members, and hence the organisations they represent, to participate in the Community decision-making process. The Committee has 317 members. Its members are appointed by the Council.