Documents Perin, Emmanuelle 8 results

"The notion of ‘lifelong learning' (LLL) has gained in importance in the European debates since the 1990s, together with the assumption that the social partners at European and national levels should be actively involved in harmonized policies in the field. The paper questions the possibility and potential for such an active involvement of national-level trade unions and employer organizations in European policies of LLL. Based on comparative empirical data collected in twelve Member States, the paper shows that social partnership in LLL seems to be a distant objective in a number of national cases, notably because there is no consensus on its aims, and because the national institutional context prevails in the determination of their role in education and training."

"Over the short history of European integration, the European institutions and social partners have set up structures where social dialogue takes place, at cross-industry, sector and company level. When compared to collective bargaining bodies in each national system of industrial relations, it is clear that these European structures do not have the same role. However, they formally hold a capacity to define joint rules that can be implemented in the Member States. To what extent does this capacity lead in practice to regulation of employment relations, or at least to potential for regulation? The article addresses these questions by the means of close examination of the European sectoral social dialogue. It shows that the potential for regulation at this European level not only depends on institutional settings but, rather, that it largely depends on ‘vertical relations' between the European-level bodies and national social partners."

"The article examines the ‘new phase' of the European social dialogue, and its credentials as a system of European tripartism. It is argued that tripartism is notable for four key characteristics, and the presence of these characteristics in a transnational interest representation regime is assessed. Though the ‘new phase' of the social dialogue is found to engage with innovative topics, it also emerges as being marked by peripheral output and piecemeal implementation outcomes. The article's conclusion is thus sceptical, and notes difficulties associated with transnational tripartism and the increasing dilution of the European social dialogue."

"Par le biais du dialogue social européen, les partenaires sociaux sont étroitement associés à l'élaboration des politiques sociales communautaires et sont habilités à négocier des accords à dimension européenne. Ces accords prennent la forme de textes de nouvelle génération dont la mise en œuvre repose sur un processus volontaire et non contraignant. La thèse vise à examiner la capacité des textes de nouvelle génération à affecter les relations d'emploi nationales ainsi que les circonstances favorisant leur mise en œuvre. En s'intéressant à l'implication des acteurs nationaux dans le processus de décision, elle soulève la question de l'européanisation des intérêts et met en évidence les mécanismes d'européanisation propres aux nouveaux modes de gouvernance. Par une analyse comparée du secteur des hôpitaux et de l'agriculture, il est démontré que la mise en œuvre ne peut être envisagée comme un mouvement linéaire ‘top-down' ou ‘bottom-up' mais plutôt comme l'action finale de la stratégie d'action « multi-niveaux » des partenaires sociaux nationaux. Les résultats du dialogue social sectoriel européen s'avèrent finalement intrinsèquement liés aux intérêts nationaux des acteurs qui s'y investissent ainsi qu'à leur capacité d'action."

"In the debates on the European social dialogue as a potential level of supranational industrial relations, the key questions of representations and mandates are often neglected. To what extent can the European sectoral social dialogue act for national constituencies across 27 Member States in the perspective of collective action by European associations? This article addresses this question by the means of three dimensions: the representation of heterogeneous members, the various degrees of national players' commitment in the European committees and finally, the definition of a common agenda among members."

"In 1998, the European Commission decided to institutionalize European sectoral social dialogue (ESSD) committees under a new harmonized form. As of 2010, there are 40 sectors with a sectoral committee. A recent Commission assessment suggested that there is a direct correlation between the effectiveness of ESSD and that of social dialogue on a national level. This article analyses in greater detail the relationships between the European committees and national-level social partners, showing that these relationships play a decisive role in the ability of ESSD to work efficiently. The article examines four dimensions of this ‘vertical coordination': the representativeness of the European social partners; the Europeanization of interests; national players' involvement in the ESSD committees and, finally, the implementation of joint texts. As these four dimensions are by no means autonomous, the article briefly examines their interaction in its last section, showing that this can fuel either a vicious circle hindering ESSD or, by contrast, a virtuous circle facilitating it. "

"European sectoral social dialogue has its roots in the creation of the European Union. Over the last decade, there have been numerous changes to its institutional foundations, structures and scope. This report gives an overview of the current state of play regarding European sectoral social dialogue. It focuses on three main aspects: recent developments and outcomes, the interactions between parties either directly or indirectly involved in this dialogue, and the implementation and impact of the social dialogue texts in EU Member States."