EU leaders and social partners met on 19 March 2025 in Brussels for the Tripartite Social Summit. The main theme of the summit was: “Bringing Europe back on track in a challenging geopolitical environment as an attractive, competitive and investment-friendly location that protects and creates quality jobs.”
The summit is a high-level forum for dialogue between EU institutions and European social partners. It is co-chaired by the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, with participation from the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. European-level social partners included BusinessEurope, ETUC, SGI Europe (enterprises with services of general interest), SMEunited, and Eurocadres (European professional and managerial staff).
Discussions focused on investing in skills to create and maintain quality jobs and boost EU competitiveness, the effects of the war in Ukraine and rising trade tariffs, and the need for unity and global partnerships. Other key topics were investment in public services alongside defence, the role of cohesion policy in competitiveness, addressing social malaise, engaging young people, and the importance of collective bargaining.
António Costa, President of the European Council, stressed that strong dialogue between trade unions and employers is central to the European social model and essential in times of major economic transformation.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said the spirit of social dialogue remains strong and is vital to ensuring no one is left behind as Europe boosts its competitiveness.
ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch urged the EU to drive its own agenda with a strong industrial strategy. She called for suspension of EU fiscal rules, a new “SURE 2.0” job protection instrument, and stronger investment tools—insisting public support must lead to quality jobs.