At the Summit in Genval on 22 November 2002, the social partners adopted their first joint multiannual work programme for the period 2003-2005. In this framework, the social partners concluded the first agreements in a new generation of ‘autonomous’ initiatives, whereby implementation at the national level was entrusted to the social partners themselves.

In March 2006, the social partners set the seal on their second multiannual work programme for 2006-2008. This commits the participants to action in a range of areas including: negotiating an autonomous framework agreement on harassment and violence at work - this was concluded in April 2007.

In May 2009, the European social partners adopted their third multiannual work programme, to run until 2010, identifying areas of joint action. This includes (but it is not limited to: joint work on flexicurity , climate change and the so called “EU2020” strategy). Through this new programme they reinforce their commitment to jointly address Europe’s major social, economic and environmental challenges.

In March 2012 the European social partners presented their forth Work Programme, to run until 2014, addressing youth and employment, as two of the main activities.