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2006 Position on the announced initiative on a "Optional framework for transnational collective bargaining"

Ceemet considers that the trend towards more flexibility in and the greater decentralisation of collective bargaining arrangements that are now evident in many EU Member States is in sharp contrast to the Commission’s idea of establishing a framework for transnational collective bargaining. In the important area of collective bargaining, which is the core activity of many of our national member organisations and which reflects their different industrial relations histories and cultures, particularly in the enlarged European Union, such an intervention would be totally inappropriate.

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Ceemet key messages

  • Ceemet strongly opposed to the Commission’s idea of introducing an optional framework for transnational collective bargaining. It considers that art. 137 pp of the EC Treaty already provides a suitable framework for social dialogue at European level which, in addition, respects and is compatible with the different existing industrial relations systems in EU Member States.
  • Ceemet believes that the Commission's concluding remarks at the Seminars on the "Optional European Framework on Transnational Collective Bargaining" in May and November 2006 indicate that it understands these concerns about the need for this planned Commission initiative and its potential adverse impact on well-established collective bargaining arrangements as it stated that there should be further analysis of and discussions on the forms of social dialogue that currently exist.
  • In view of the importance of this issue for our national member organisations, Ceemet would be very keen to continue to be involved in discussions with the European Commission on this issue following its participation in the seminar organised by the European Commission on 27 November 2006.

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