Tripartite social summit for growth and employment

2013/0361(APP)

The European Parliament adopted by 527 votes to 59, with 38 abstentions, in the framework of a special legislative procedure (consent), an interim resolution on the proposal for a Council decision on a Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment.

Parliament called on the Council to take account of the following amendments:

Involve the social partners: Parliament made reference to the Declaration by the European Social Partners on Social Partner Involvement in European Economic Governance adopted on 24 October 2013 in which the EU social partners confirmed their support for the Tripartite Social Summit for growth and employment and called for a coherent process of consultation of the social partners in the context of the European Semester.

Parliament recalled the importance of the social partners’s expertise in the areas covered by the Summit.

Composition: Parliament stated that the Summit should also consist of the President of the European Council, the Council Presidency and the two subsequent presidencies, the Commission and the social partners, represented at the highest level. The ministers from those three presidencies and the Commissioner responsible for employment and social affairs shall also be present. Depending on the agenda, other ministers from these three presidencies, other Commissioners and the Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament may also be invited to take part.

Parliament called for each delegation to consist of representatives of European cross-industry organisations, either representing general interests or more specific interests of supervisory and managerial staff and micro, small and medium-sized businesses at European level.

The agenda for the Summit should be determined jointly by, and based on the equal partnership between, the Council, the Commission and the workers’ and employers’ cross-industry organisations taking part in the work of the Summit.

The matters on the agenda shall be discussed by the Council meeting in its Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs configuration, based as appropriate on a contribution of all its preparatory bodies.

Monitoring: the Summit shall meet at least twice a year. The meetings shall be held before the respective spring and autumn sessions of the European Council, and the outcome of the Summit shall be presented to the following European Council for decision-making. Lastly, The joint chairmen shall draw up a summary of the Summit’s discussions in order to inform the relevant Council configurations, the European Parliament and the general public.