The ETUC, together with the other European social partners, works with all the EU institutions - Presidency, Council, Commission and Parliament - in developing employment, social and macroeconomic policy. This involves:

 taking part in the annual Tripartite Social Summit each spring;
 putting the trade union point of view on European Commission proposals;
 liaising with a cross-party Intergroup of MEPs in the European Parliament;
 coordinating trade union participation in a number of advisory bodies, including the Economic and Social Committee and the EU agencies for vocational training, living and working conditions, health and safety.

It also takes part in negotiations with employers at European level to reach ‘autonomous’ agreements on topics affecting European workers, such as teleworking (2002), work-related stress (2004), and harassment and violence at work (2007).