Industrial Relations in Europe 2012 - European Commission - Europa

social partners' increasing role as consulted stakeholders in the preparation of legislative or strategic
proposals (see also box 7.3).
The chapter will start with a chronological presentation of the four sectoral social partner
agreements reached in 2012. This is followed by an overview of the activities connected to the
crisis, including the related topics of restructuring, training and skills. Section 7.3 summarises the
work of the sectoral social dialogue committees in other fields, such as health and safety, corporate
social responsibility and gender equality, while the final part of the chapter reports on an evaluation
of past actions developed in the cross-industry social dialogue committee.
Box 7.3 Social partner involvement in impact assessments
In line with Articles 8-10 TFEU, the European Commission conducts comprehensive assessments
of the potential impacts of all its policies and initiatives. Stakeholders are consulted in a systematic
manner during the preparation of these impact assessments. The guidelines used in preparing the
assessments highlight the obligation to consult European sectoral social dialogue committees in
cases where the Commission initiative could be expected to entail social implications for the
concerned sector(s).
While based on available information, consultation of sectoral social dialogue committees is
complementary to other forms of consultation, notably public consultations. It also differs from
wider consultation of other actors of civil society in that social partners engaged in European
sectoral social dialogue are recognised by the Commission as representative actors of the sector
concerned. A possible joint position of the social partners in a sector can therefore give a strong and
representative indication about realistic policies and their impacts and implementation.
A consultation of a sectoral social dialogue committee on an impact assessment covers the
underlying problem definition and baseline scenario, subsidiarity questions, the relevant policy
options and, in the further process, the estimated social and employment impacts of the various
options and possible accompanying or mitigating policy measures. Social partners are particularly
well placed to provide detailed evidence and expertise for their sector, including data and other
technical input, thereby contributing to the quality of both the impact assessment and the
Commission's decision-making.
7.2 Main developments in European social dialogue
7.2.1 European social partner agreements
The two-year period since 2010 has seen the signing of four sectoral social partner agreements:
inland waterway transport, professional football, hairdressing and sea fisheries. For the agreements
in waterway transport and hairdressing the social partners have requested implementation by
Council decisions in accordance with Article 155(2) TFEU and the same request may be made by
the social partners in the sea fisheries sector once their agreement is finalised. The Commission
services are currently assessing the two finalised agreements with a view to deciding whether to
present a proposal to the Council. In line with a well-established procedure, the Commission is
examining the representativeness of the signatory parties and their mandate, the legality of all
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