Involvement of Trade Unions in the European Semester (INVOTUNES) is a two-year (2018-2019) European Commission-funded research project aimed at examining the involvement of national trade union organisations in both the European and national cycles of the European Semester.
The timeframe covered is the period between 2014 and 2018, while the analysis considers two social policy areas addressed in the Semester that are of particular relevance to trade unions: a) employment and wage setting; and b) social protection and social inclusion. The project focuses on eight countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Sweden. For each of these eight countries, an in-depth case study was conducted by a country team, using qualitative research methods. In addition, with a view to gaining a broad picture of the situation across the European Union (EU), an online survey was carried out covering the 28 Member States.
The research project was coordinated by European Social Observatory and involved three independent research centres, three trade union-related institutes and three universities.
Objectives of the project: from research to awareness raising
INVOTUNES had six specific objectives:
- first, to identify the channels through which national trade unions have access to both the EU and national cycles of the European Semester;
- second, to shed light on the linkages between the Semester and 'ordinary' domestic decision-making procedures (in particular, national social dialogue);
- third, to identify trade unions' strategies for involvement and the determinants of these strategies;
- fourth, to highlight trade unions' actual influence on the agenda, the outputs and the outcomes of the process (if any);
- fifth, to provide recommendations to both trade unions and decision-makers on how to increase the effectiveness of the involvement process; and
- finally, to increase awareness of the importance of the European Semester among domestic trade unions and, more generally, social partner organisations.
Key findings
Nine key messages emerge from the research.
- The poor quality of the access channels at national level, even ‘unwillingness’,
- the multiplying of the satisfactory access channels for interaction with EU institutions in the Semester,
- national trade unions adopt different strategies (proactive vs responsive) for involvement in the Semester
- chosen strategy is limited by a lack of adequate cognitive and organisational resources,
- inter-trade union cooperation, but not with employers or civil society organisations,
- several instances of usage of the Semester tools and messages as a ‘policy sword, as ‘lubricant’ or as containment strategy,
- trade unions perceive their influence as limited or non-existent,
- influence on EU documents like Country-specific Recommendations (CSRs) is only possible with the availability of cognitive resources,
- political considerations are dictating the involvement process on both sides (policy-makers and trade unions).
Read more in the executive summary or the report.
Policy recommendations for more effective involvement in the European Semester
Recommendations for trade unions include:
- to strengthen their cognitive and organisational resources and to exchange good practices regarding involvement in the Semester;
- to promote cooperation between national trade unions in the same country, in order to establish more effective strategies for involvement;
- to enhance interaction with the European Commission, as this is a promising way to have some impact on the Semester
- to further clarify and enhance the role of the Trade Union Semester Liaison Officers (TUSLOs), including by better defining their position and responsibilities within national trade union confederations.
There are also recommendations for the Member States and the European Commission. Read more in the executive summary or the report.