ANNUAL REPORT 2008 - Polymer Bank Notes of the World

3 ESCB SOCIAL DIALOGUEThe ESCB Social Dialogue is a consultativeforum involving the ECB and employeerepresentatives from the central banks of theESCB and from European trade unionfederations 20 . Its purpose is to provideinformation and foster exchanges of views onissues that may have a major impact onemployment conditions at the central banks ofthe ESCB.This information is provided in a biannualnewsletter and at meetings held in April andOctober. The meetings held in 2008 focusedon the issues of cooperation and specialisationin the Eurosystem, the Treaty of Lisbon andits impact on the ESCB, and the role of marketoperations and financial supervision in timesof turbulence. Issues relating to banknoteproduction and circulation, as well as paymentsystems (TARGET2, TARGET2-Securities andCCBM2), were also discussed. The employeerepresentatives were also informed of the workbeing carried out by the HRC.An ad hoc working group on banknoteproduction and circulation was set up. Itinvolved a very limited number of participantsand aimed to address technical questions relatingto banknotes prior to the plenary meeting of theESCB Social Dialogue.20 The Standing Committee of European Central Bank Unions(SCECBU), Union Network International – Europa (UNI-EuropaFinance) and the European Federation of Public Service Unions(EPSU).ECBAnnual Report2008211