The principle of social dialogue is a fundamental part of the European Union and its constitution, enshrined in Articles 154 and 155 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

It has long been viewed as one of the important mechanisms for the design and implementation of policies, especially in the field of social and employment policies.

European social dialogue has been a key layer of European governance ever since the Social Protocol was enforced in 1993 by the Maastricht Treaty, which established the autonomy of the European social partners and created a number of shared responsibilities with the political actors to co-define ‘Social Europe.

For more information with regards to the European Social Dialogue check out the European Commission's communication titled "The European social dialogue, a force for innovation and change".