On 8 February, AMICE came together with 31 other employer and trade union organisations*, to urge the European Commission to clarify details regarding the future organisation and financing of European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committees (SSDCs).

In a joint open letter, the signatories indicate that they expect the European Commission to maintain logistical and financial support for SSDCs as well as enhance their political support for them.

The letter voices concern about a future lack of security and predictability over the financing of SSDCs. This relates particularly to the suggestion of alternative approaches to the organisation of SSDCs, and the approach of multi-annual project-based financing which can be difficult for smaller organisations, active in social dialogue, to administer.

The letter concludes by stressing the urgent need for the European Commission to ensure that the necessary financial and political support is made available to sectoral social partners without increasing the burden on them.

On 25 January, the European Commission published its Communication on Strengthening social dialogue in the European Union. The document stresses the importance of harnessing the full potential of the social dialogue that takes place between employers and trade unions with a view to managing fair transitions.

Social Dialogue covers negotiation, consultation and information exchange between link server internasional representatives of governments, employers and workers on economic and social policy. AMICE has been a strong employers’ representative for mutual and cooperative insurers within Europe’s Insurance Sectoral Social Dialogue.

Read the full open letter

* AMICE, Bipar, CEEMET, CEI-Bois, CEMR, CoESS, EACB, EBF – Banking Committee for European Social Affairs, ECEG, ECSA, EFCI, EFEE, Eurelectric, EuroCommerce, Euromines, FIEC, Geopa, HOTREC, Insurance Europe, IRU, Pearle – Live Performance Europe, UITP, World Employment Confederation-Europe, European Arts & Entertainment Alliance, EFBWW, EFFAT, EPSU, ETF, ETUCE, EUROCOP, IndustriALL Europe, Uni Europa.