20th anniversary Brussels conference

F.O.I. Legal affairs Executive Dr Ingrid Buhagiar and Malta Business Bureau (MBB) senior policy officer Dr Gabriella Pace represented the FOI at the Social Dialogue Summit on the 20th anniversary of European Social Dialogue, held in Brussels. The Maltese delegation also included the president of the Confederation of Malta Trade Unions (CMTU), John Bencini.

The summit featured presentations on the 20 years of social dialogue and also on the future of social dialogue. It was also characterised by an open discussion between the participants on the further evolution of social dialogue.

National dialogues, it was stressed, can be very positively influenced by the European social dialogue method. There was overall agreement that social dialogue can lead to binding agreements.

The summit was very interesting, with interventions from key players in the development of social dialogue, such as Jacques Delors and the President of the European Commission, Josè Manuel Barroso.

The intervention of Mr Delors focused on the contribution of social dialogue to social Europe, whereas the intervention of Mr Barroso focused on the contribution of social dialogue to the Lisbon strategy and the future of the European Social Model.

The President of the European Commission also touched on the fact that social dialogue is a particularly widespread form of participatory democracy, which is still full of potential. His intervention ensued by highlighting the fact that all the principles and values which were introduced 20 years ago in relation to social dialogue have to be adopted and amended to the present needs.

During this summit both Dr Buhagiar and Dr Pace had the opportunity to meet various participants representing the EU institutions and the European social partners.