The European Commission's 2024 enlargement package recognises that strengthening social dialogue, including the capacities of social partners, continues to be relevant in order to address labour market challenges in candidate countries.
The ETUC has long pointed out that an environment conducive to genuine social dialogue, where trade unions are enabled to defend workers' interest and to actively contribute to the EU accession process, are indispensable conditions for enlargement to be a success for workers in both existing and perspective member states.
ETUC confederal secretary Tea Jarc said:
"We are pleased that the Commission has heeded our advice that trade unions must play a role and must be supported in their capacity building. Social dialogue is a hallmark of the EU social market economy and must be so also for countries seeking EU membership."
"There is also clarity that economic convergence needs to go hand in hand with social convergence – based on the principles of the EU Pillar on Social Rights, the EU social acquis and strong social dialogue. This is a much-needed reminder to those governments that are still ignore trade unions or actively seek to undermine them."
