European social dialogue and the ambivalence of the triple A Social Europe

After a period in which the European social partners were called on to contribute by means of collective bargaining to the construction of a European social dimension, changes, sometimes unexpected, are now hindering the development of the European social dialogue. The interprofessional level has been weakened by confusion over the objectives and tools of social dialogue: for employers, it is a forum to debate structural reforms of labour markets, for trades unions and in the treaties it is a place for collective bargaining to create social norms that improve living and working conditions. The sectorial level has fallen prey to an unexpected change of attitude by the European Commission itself, which is now impeding a dialogue that could lead to restrictive legal norms in the name – or on the pretext – of regulatory fitness and performance. The ongoing blockage of sectorial social dialogue agreements has a part to play in harming the Juncker Commission’s efforts to achieve its stated objective of a social Triple A rating.