Role of the ETUC 2015/2019 - follow-up: ETUC/EESC Workers' Group cooperation (resolution)
Adopted at the ETUC Executive Committee on 28-29 October 2015
The future challenges for the trade unions in Europe are enormous. We have to re-establish workers' rights and to improve the living and working conditions of millions of workers and their families; to rebuild a strong social dialogue and a structured consultation of the social partners on fundamental questions such as Economic Governance or the EU Semester; to guarantee fundamental rights for people living in Europe.
To respond to these difficult challenges in the near future there is a need to forge a common strategy and to reinforce important alliances for the trade union movement at all levels, national and European.
At the ETUC’s 13th Congress, it was agreed that an important aspect of enhancing the ETUC’s role and functioning during the 2015 – 2019 mandate should include a closer cooperation with the EESC, notably the Workers' Group. Many of the members of the EESC Workers’ Group come from the national confederations affiliated to the ETUC and are members of the ETUC Executive Committee.
Taking into account the different roles of the two bodies, the ETUC and the Workers' Group of the EESC will find common ground for cooperation, exchange of experiences and expertise.
To achieve this joint goal:
- The President of the EESC Workers' Group will take part in the ETUC Steering Committee and Executive Committee meetings.
- The General Secretary and/or ETUC Secretariat will regularly be invited to speak at the EESC Workers' group extraordinary meetings and other meetings on specific issues.
- ETUC members of the Workers' Group will receive resolutions and documents approved by the ETUC Executive board. The ETUC will at the same time inform its members about EESC key opinions.
- The EESC Workers' Group will promote joint meetings and events with the ETUC.
- An annual meeting between the ETUC Secretariat and the Workers' Group Bureau will take place to evaluate the mutual collaboration, discuss priorities and programming for the following year, including, where possible, the coordination of activities or events.
- There will be a mutual exchange of information regarding the outcomes of studies and projects undertaken by the ETUC, the ETUI and the EESC Workers' Group.