EBC project “Under construction”

1. Launching Seminar Brussels - 30 October 2007 Intervention Liliane Volozinskis Director Social Affairs UEAPME EBC project “Under construction”

2. Outline • I - Presentation of the UEAPME • II - Activities developed by UEAPME in the BSP I and II • III - Activities developed in the joint round tables ETUC/UEAPME • IV - Activities developed jointly by the four European Social partners • V - Lessons learned

3. I. Presentation of the UEAPME • Created in 1979 • Composed of 84 organisations in 36 Countries • Defends the interests of Craft and SMEs • Represents 11 million enterprises employing 50 million people • Recognised European Social Partner since December 1998 • Fully involved in all activities of the EU social dialogue • Negotiation of European framework agreements and of the EU SP multi-annual work programme

4. II. Activities developed in the BSP I and II UEAPME project Business Support Programme I (2000- 2002) - Phare programme Specific features What ? • Developing the capacity building of UEAPME members in the CEECs applicant countries (Phare programme) How ? • Development of training tools on EU social acquis (including social dialogue) • Tailored made seminars organised on a twinning basis Where and with whom ? the 8 CEECs • Latvia (LAK) – Partner Italy (CNA) • Czech Republic (AMSP CR) – Partner Nederland (MKB) • Hungary (IPOSZ) – Partner Austria (WKÖ) • Estonia (EVEA) – Partner Finland (Y) http://www.ueapme.com/EN/projects_archived_1.shtml

5. II. Activities developed in the BSP I and II UEAPME project Business Support Programme II (2002- 2005) – PhareProgramme Specific features What ? • Information and awareness raising on EU acquis • Institution building to strengthen SME organisations How ? • Development of training tools on EU acquis (social affairs/employability) • Training of trainers • Multipliers seminars in cooperation with UEAPME • Development of sectoral flyers on the Internal market Where and with whom? The 8 CEECs • Latvia (LAK) – Partner Italy (Confartigianato) • Czech Republic (AMSP CR) – Partner Germany (HWK Dresden) • Hungary (IPOSZ) – Partner Austria (WKÖ) • Estonia (EVEA) – Partner Nordic Cluster (F/S/DK) Remark: A BSP III has been submitted to the EC for Rumania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Croatia http://www.ueapme.com/business-support%20II/index.htm

6. III. Activities developed in the joint round tablesETUC/UEAPME pilot project « Social Acquis and SMEs in the CEECs » (2002-2003)-DG EMP budget line Specific features What ? • First bilateral project with the trade unions representatives • Development of relationships between SMEs and TU • Development of the social dialogue in candidate countries Why? • Necessity to create direct contacts between trade unions and SME organisations in view of social partnership How ? • Bilateral seminars : Round tables on SD applied to Working conditions and Training Where and with whom? 4 CEECs • Slovenia (OZS) – Partner TU (ZSSS) • Poland (ZRP) – Partner TU (NSZZ) • Hungary (IPOSZ) – Partner TU (MSZOSZ, MOSZ, Liga, ASZSZ, SZEF-ESZT) • Slovakia (SZZ) - Partner TU (KOZ SR) http://www.ueapme.com/EN/projects_archived_3.shtml

7. III. Results of the joint round tablesETUC/UEAPME project Results : Very positive assessment • First joint initiative by EU SP on social dialogue development in the CEEC • First contacts between two parallel worlds • Better mutual understanding and development of « common interests » • Improved knowledge on the EU Social Dialogue • Recognition of the need and importance of social dialogue as a tool for a more efficient labour market • Reflection about the development of a « culture » of social dialogue at national and sectoral level • Recognition of SMEs specific needs in social dialogue • General willingness to continue

8. IV. Activities developed jointly by the four European Social partners – Integrated programme Basis: • ETUC/UEAPME Pilot project - Joint Round tables in 4 CEEC • ETUC, UEAPME, CEEP, BUSINESSEUROPE work programmes Achievement: Integrated programmeof the EU Social Dialogue 2003-2005 and 2006-2008 (DG EMP budget line) « What are the social partner needs in the CEEC » • Project designed by the EU social partners for their affiliates in the new Member States and Candidate Countries in 2003 • Interactive seminars on social dialogue and interconnectivity between the EU and national levels in the 8 CEEC + Malta and Cyprus and more recently in 2006 Rumania and Bulgaria + Turkey and Croatia • Elaboration of national action plans jointly and unilaterally by the national social partners dedicated to the development of social dialogue • EU SP Monitoring procedure with a second round of follow-up seminars and addition of the topic of role of social partners in restructuring

9. IV. Activities developed jointly by the four European Social partners – Integrated programme Main content of national action plans : • Better coordination among TU or employers and reporting to members • Establishing a regular national level dialogue between the SP • Securing more financial and material resources • Quantity and quality of human resources • Early identification of priority issues • Developing cooperative approaches with national SP organisations in other Member States

10. IV. Activities developed within the integrated programmeEmployers’ Resource Centre Creation of 2 distinct resource centres (Employers and trade unions presenting all the results of the project) Objectives: practical assistance of new MS social partner organisations • Information on past developments and future activities of the EU SD • Observation places for EU social dialogue meetings • Tailored training sessions on EU social dialogue • A tool to audit human resource competences • Answering queries on EU SD activities and community policies • Providing and updating information on EU funding opportunities for projects & assistance in tendering and management • Promoting full implementation of EU social dialogue texts throughout the EU Website • Website for employers: www.erc-online.eu

11. V – Lessons learned of EU SP integrated programme • As one of the main pillars of the European Social Model, social dialogue cannot be optional for the new MS • Tripartism exists in every new MS with a strong role of government whereas the bipartite social dialogue is less developed • Difficulty to consider tripartism and bipartism as complementary processes • Acknowledgment that an effective bipartite SD could increase the influence of SP in the tripartite system, but further action requested • In terms of human resources, mismatch between languages and technical skills • Necessity to focus on key priorities due to limited HR (linkage of national and EU agenda) • Request to develop cooperative approaches with other social partners in other MS to gain some “real” experience • In countries where sectoral SD has not developed, TU reported difficulties in identifying and engaging with “employer partners”

12. Main Conclusions • Despite the wealth of past and ongoing initiatives, further actions need to be taken for: • creating space for bipartite dialogue (Hungary/Poland) • or improving its effectiveness (Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia) • Sectoral and regional social dialogues are still largely underdeveloped • Diversity of industrial relations systems needs to be respected (tripartite/bipartite social dialogue) • Need for strong autonomous and representative social partners (not achieved yet – fragmentation) • No sustainable bipartite social dialogue without the direct and full participation of SME’s employers’ associations • Usefulness of exchange of experiences and further of focused projects organised by social partners for social partners such as “Under Construction”.

13. For further information www.ueapme.com www.erc-online.eu Thank you for your attention ****