A commentary on the Council Recommendation on strengthening social dialogue in the European Union

Abstract

The 2023 Council Recommendation on strengthening social dialogue in the European Union is a very special document. It brings social dialogue into the spotlight, while respecting national social dialogue practices. Employers believe that the right balance was struck and perceive the Recommendation as a useful instrument in promoting social dialogue and strengthening capacity of social partners both the EU and national levels. The meaningfulness of this Recommendation depends now on its implementation in Member States. Granting sufficient time for implementing the Recommendation – five years with reporting to the Council on evaluation of taken actions planned for December 2029 – and involving social partners are important success factors.