2011: 20 years of European interprofessional social dialogue: achievements and prospects

Abstract

Twenty years have passed since the then European social partners ETUC, UNICE and CEEP concluded their Agreement on Social Policy, incorporating ‘the basic rules of the game of European social dialogue’, which was first annexed to the Maastricht Treaty and has been part of the body of the Treaties since the Treaty of Amsterdam. The first part of this article briefly takes stock of the results to date of this European interprofessional social dialogue, in particular as regards concrete outcomes. The second part looks at more recent developments, as well as at what is to be expected for 2011. Part 3 reviews some of the lessons learned so far and draws some conclusions — in particular for trade unions, in view of the 2011 ETUC Congress — for a negotiation agenda for a possible revision to the 1991 Agreement.