EU Member States signed the Treaty of Lisbon in December 2007, and it entered into force in December 2009. While not meeting all the ETUC’s demands, it did include some positive provisions to strengthen the EU’s social dimension:

- the reinforcement of social values and principles (such as solidarity, equality and gender equality, non-discrimination, etc.),

- the social and employment objectives (‘full employment’, ‘social market economy’),

- the recognition of the role of the social partners,

- the incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights,

- the right of initiative for citizens,

- the legal base for services of general interest,

- the social clause.