Tripartite Social Summit, 18 October 2017

The main theme of this meeting of the Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment was 'Shaping Europe's future: strengthening resilience and promoting economic and social progress for all'. 

Discussions were focused on three areas:

• the social dimension of Europe
• progress achieved and ways to improve involvement of social partners in policies and reforms at national level
• investing in learning in a digital economy and society

"Today we discussed how the social partners can be better involved in national policy-making. I remain convinced that only by taking their views into account can we make real progress. This is especially important in today's digital age, where citizens, young and old, need to be equipped with the right skills to prosper."

Donald Tusk, European Council President

• Invitation letter to the Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment, 27 September 2017
• Background Tripartite Social Summit

Shaping the future agenda

As part of the broader debate on the future of Europe, the Tripartite Social Summit also provided a timely opportunity to discuss the social dimension in the context of shaping the future agenda.

The summit focused on the role of the social partners in building economic and social progress, both at the EU and national levels. 

The social partners expressed their views in particular on investing in learning in a digital economy and society. 

These discussions will also feed into the Social Summit for fair jobs and growth to be held in Gothenburg on 17 November. 

What is the Tripartite Social Summit? 

It is a forum for dialogue between the EU institutions at president level and the European social partners at top management level. The summit is co-chaired by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the Head of State or Government of the rotating presidency; this time the latter is the Estonian Prime Minister. 

The participating social partners were BusinessEurope, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises (CEEP), the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME) and Eurocadres.