Tripartite social summit for growth and employment

2013/0361(APP)

PURPOSE: to revise the substance of Council Decision 2003/174/EC establishing the Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment (TSS) and repeal that Decision.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

CONTENT : in a revised version of the draft decision, the Council decided to amend the substance of Decision 2003/174/EC on the Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment as follows:

Task:  the task of the TSS will be to:

  • ensure, in compliance with the TFEU and the TEU and with due regard for the powers of the institutions and bodies of the Union, that there is a continuous concertation between the European Council, the Council, the Commission and the social partners;
  • enable the European social partners to contribute, in the context of their social dialogue, to the various components of the Union's strategy for growth and jobs;
  • facilitate synergies between the actions of the European Council, the Council, the Commission and the social partners aimed at the promotion of growth, a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against social exclusion and a high level of education, training and protection of human health.

Composition: the TSS will be comprised of:

  • the Presidents of the European Council and the Commission,
  • the current Council Presidency represented at the highest level
  • the two subsequent Council Presidencies and
  • the social partners.

As set out in the initial legislative proposal presented by the Commission on 31.10.2013:

  • the social partners’ representatives shall be divided into two delegations of equal size comprising 10 workers’ representatives and 10 employers’ representatives, taking into account the need to ensure a balanced participation between men and women;
  • each delegation shall consist of representatives of European cross-industry organisations, either representing general interests or more specific interests of supervisory and managerial staff and small and medium-sized businesses at European level;
  • technical coordination shall be provided for the workers’ delegation by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and for the employers’ delegation by the Confederation of European Business (BUSINESSEUROPE).

Technical provisions are set out as regards:

  • the preparation of the Summit;
  • the operation (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);
  • information on the Summit’s discussions.