The European Commission has a statutory duty to consult the social partners on European social legislation. The ETUC’s overall objective is to defend and improve the European Social Model, combining sustainable economic growth with ever-improving living and working conditions. This implies full employment, good quality jobs, equal opportunities, social protection for all, social inclusion, and involving citizens in the decisions that affect them.

This is what distinguishes Europe, where post-war social progress has matched economic growth, from the US model, where small numbers of individuals have benefited at the expense of the majority. In the era of globalisation, Social Europe is a crucial model for countries around the world.