In the spring of 2026, the Independent Christian Trade Unions of Slovakia (NKOS) successfully completed two key study visits as part of the project "European Dimension of Education for a More Active Social Dialogue." The mobilities to Spain and Belgium focused on strengthening European social dialogue, exchanging expertise in adult education, and mastering modern communication tools.
Spain: From Social Dialogue to Digital Communication
The first mobility took place in cooperation with the Spanish trade union center USO (Unión Sindical Obrera). The NKOS delegation, consisting of Ľubica Černá, Ivan Černý, and Katarína Blanárová, followed an intensive professional program in Madrid and Seville.
Beyond analyzing the Spanish model of social dialogue, participants at the USO headquarters focused on creating videos for social media. This skill has become essential for the modern presentation of trade union topics and for effectively reaching out to younger generations of employees. The agenda was enriched by cultural visits to the historic city of Toledo and the ancient coastal city of Cádiz.
Belgium: Innovations in Adult Education
In late March, a visit to Belgium followed, where NKOS was represented by Katarína Smeets Škvarková and Ludo Smeets. This mobility focused on the development of education in cooperation with Belgian partners from the ACV - COV organization.
Program highlights included:
- Human Capital Development: Workshops in Hasselt confirmed that the quality of trade union services depends on the continuous education of its representatives.
- Member Support: Discussions regarding legal aid systems and specific approaches to the education of members in the 50+ age category provided valuable insights for the Slovak context.
- Strategic Meetings: A meeting with the General Secretary of COV, Marianne Coopmans, addressed the impact of European legislation on education and strategies for building a robust membership base.
Building a Shared European Future
Both journeys demonstrated that international cooperation within the EZA network is the key to the development of the trade union movement. The experience gained from Spanish digital marketing and Belgian innovative adult education will help NKOS better represent the interests of Slovak workers at both national and European levels.
The project "European Dimension of Education for a More Active Social Dialogue" was approved under the Erasmus+ program, Key Action 1: Short-term projects for mobility of learners and staff in adult education (KA122-ADU). Individual mobilities were implemented with the support of the EU under the Erasmus+ program.