Over the past five years, the European Union has launched several initiatives to bolster social dialogue. These include the 2022 Adequate Minimum Wages Directive, which among other goals also aims at increasing collective bargaining coverage in the EU. In 2023, the Commission presented a Communication to further strengthen and promote social dialogue with concrete actions at national and EU levels. The same year, the Council issued a Recommendation on social dialogue, advising Member States on actions at national level. In early 2024, the Val Duchesse Declaration reaffirmed the importance of social dialogue as a pillar of European democracy, calling for renewed cooperation between institutions and social partners.
Building upon these efforts, on March 5, 2025, the European Commission and key social partners including the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and BusinessEurope signed the “Pact for European social dialogue”, which aims to be "a framework under which European social dialogue will prosper".
More concretely, the Pact introduces a number of measures to reinforce the role of social partners in EU policymaking. It aims to increase workers' participation in decision-making, promote collective bargaining for fair wages and conditions, and support social dialogue at both national and European levels. Additionally, it seeks to enhance the effectiveness of European sectoral social dialogue and ensure better implementation of social partner agreements while addressing emerging labor market challenges.
New measures include the appointment of a European Social Dialogue Envoy to ensure timely and meaningful consultations with social partners and improve awareness of social dialogue within EU institutions. A Quality Jobs Roadmap will be developed in 2025 in collaboration with social partners. Additionally, social partners will now exchange views with the Commission on its Work Programme before its adoption and submit joint reports on the state of social dialogue at the EU level. The Commission will also expand consultations with social partners to include policy areas beyond the scope of Articles 153 and 154 TFEU when relevant.
While the 2023 Commission Communication and the Council Recommendation laid the groundwork for strengthening social dialogue, the 2025 Pact distinguishes itself by formalizing the collaboration between the European Commission and social partners through a joint agreement. This formalization signifies a strengthened dedication to implementing the outlined objectives, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of social dialogue mechanisms across Europe. However, the 2025 Pact reinforces prior commitments rather than introducing radical changes. Its success hinges on national implementation, continuous engagement from social partners, and unwavering political will. While the initiative strengthens EU-level social dialogue, its real impact will vary across Member States, depending on their unique labor market dynamics and commitment to the Pact's principles.
Link to the Pact for European Social Dialogue