Val Duchesse Summit: EU and social partners commit to strengthening social dialogue

On 31 January, participants at the Val Duchesse Social Partners’ Summit discussed how to address key economic and labour challenges through strengthening social dialogue. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo co-hosted the event.

At the Summit, the Commission, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU and European social partners agreed to:

• Address labour and skills shortages: There is a need for skilled workers and for quality jobs to boost EU's competitiveness. Labour and skills shortages hold back small and medium-sized businesses’ activities. We therefore need to improve working conditions, bring more people to the labour market, make it easier to recognise qualifications, and integrate workers coming from abroad. In line with this, the Commission will present an action plan to tackle labour and skills shortages in spring 2024.
• Reinforce social dialogue: Social dialogue is necessary to respond and adapt to changing economic and social circumstances. The Commission is committed to strengthening social dialogue at the European and national level by establishing a dedicated European Social Dialogue Envoy and launching a Pact for European Social Dialogue.

Social dialogue refers to discussions, negotiations and joint actions with organisations representing European employers and workers. This is fundamental to economic prosperity, to improve living and working conditions, foster competitiveness of EU businesses, and to help anticipate and manage change, such as in the face of the green and digital transitions.

Initiated in 1985 in Val Duchesse by the then Commission President Jacques Delors, the European social dialogue has been strengthening conditions in employment, education, training, and other social issues over the last 40 years.

For more information

Social dialogue

Press release: EU and social partners in Val Duchesse commit to strengthening social dialogue to tackle labour challenges

Speech by President von der Leyen at the Val Duchesse Summit

An economy that works for people

Press release: Commission sets out concrete actions for greater involvement of social partners at national and EU level

Eurobarometer on skills shortages in SMEs

A tribute to Jacques Delors