ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that European Employers’ Organizations (EEOs) represent employer interests in the European Union (EU) through the following activities: political representation, interaction with labour unions (including social dialogue), service provision and standard setting. First, EEOs lobby EU institutions, aiming to either influence, stall or prevent EU programmatic initiatives and legislation. Second, EEOs engage with labour unions in the context of EU institutions, namely cross-sectoral social dialogue; sectoral social dialogue committees; sector skills councils and the European alliance for apprenticeships; and, EU-funded projects. Third, EEOs provide services to their members, including informing them as to EU legislative initiatives, organizing events and networking opportunities, offering training, and providing services related to sectoral labour markets. Finally, EEOs contribute to standard setting in the EU, promoting sectoral work rules and defining jobs. EEOs pursue this voluntary agenda through accredited training, European professional training frameworks and codes of conduct. Overall, this chapter argues that engaging with labour unions in cross-sectoral and sectoral social dialogue is a key EEO activity but is not the most important. EEOs’ central focus is on political representation to avoid binding employment and social legislation, which in their view increases costs for employers and hinders competitiveness.
