Western Balkan social partners invited to join EU tripartite seminar for the green and just transition

+++++APPLICATION PROCESS CLOSED 23 FEBRUARY 2024+++++

Social partners play an important role in improving working conditions and productivity, strengthening the competitiveness of  businesses and boosting prosperity and resilience.

This is especially relevant in light of changes brought about by new technologies and the need for a fair transition to climate neutrality. Social partners are also essential to guarantee fairness and inclusion in the labour market and to ensure no one is left behind. 

A seminar bringing together tripartite actors – government, trade union and employer representatives – from EU Member States is being organised by the European Union's agencies Eurofound, Cedefop and the European Environment Agency.  

The 2024 Tripartite Exchange Seminar (TES) will take place from 29 to 31 May with preparatory and follow-up activities. It is being organised as a follow up to a successful pilot project initiated by Eurofound in 2022 (Tripartite Exchange Seminar 'Summer Forum'). The topic of discussion will be the green and just transition.

For the first time this year, with the support of the European Training Foundation and Eurofound, participation is encouraged from social partner representatives from the Western Balkan economies. This is an exciting opportunity for representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to engage with European-level social dialogue, establish and participate in new networks with EU Member States, and deepen their understanding of the importance of social partnership in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal.

What are the aims of the seminar?

By creating dedicated time and space for social learning, the 2024 seminar aims to improve the capacity of social partners and governments so that they can engage and act effectively in social dialogue for the green and just transition.

What are the key activities planned?

• Sharing experiences and initiatives on national policies and social dialogue, particularly focused on the green and just transition.
• Enhancing mutual learning activities among participants based on their needs.
• Stimulating forward-looking debates on social dialogue and the green and just transition
• Creating a community of practice across affiliations, Member States and Western Balkan economies and raising the value and awareness of social dialogue and its contribution to the green and just transition.

What is the timeframe of engagement?

The seminar is composed of three interactive modules:

• Online introductory session – 8 May 2024
• Residential session in Brussels, hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee – 29–31 May 2024
• Online follow-up sessions – September–December 2024 (dates to be confirmed)

What are the conditions of engagement?

• Social partner organisations of participants must be accredited at European level.
• Selected participants will have their costs covered and will be expected to engage fully in all the modules of the seminar.

Which profiles are sought?

Professionals working in national social partner and government organisations.

The seminar is targeted to national level social partners and in particular, early and mid-career professionals in trade union and employer organisations as well as from government departments and other relevant public bodies dealing with social dialogue who meet the following conditions:

• motivated to take part in a European-level tripartite exchange seminar (and demonstrate it in their application);
• possess relevant professional knowledge, expertise in social dialogue and an interest in the green transition;
• comfortable using English as a working language, speaking and writing;
• have the agreement of their employer/organisation for their participation in all the TES 2024 process and its main components.

Where can I find more information about the requirements and application process?

The online application can be accessed via the website of Eurofound:

Tripartite Exchange Seminar (TES) 2024 | European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (europa.eu)

For any questions from potential applicants from the Western Balkans, write to: info@etf.europa.eu.

What is the deadline for submission?

Friday, 23 February 2024.

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_{*This designation is without prejudice to any positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on Kosovo’s declaration of independence.}