On 25 November 2025, the European Semester Autumn Package was adopted, kicking off the EU’s annual process for coordinating Member States’ economic and social policies.
Several parts of the package highlight the importance of social dialogue, reflecting the Employment Guideline 7 and the 2023 Council Recommendation on social dialogue.
Highlights
Communication on 2026 European Semester – Autumun Pakcage
It underlines that without intensifying policy efforts, including by promoting quality jobs and relying on effective social dialogue, there is a risk to worsen existing challenges and impact EU competitiveness.
Proposal for a Council recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area
The proposal encourages euro area Member States to actively involve social partners in policymaking and strengthenint social dialogue, as well as on promoting job quality. Both issues are seen as essential to support euro area competitiveness and resilience to structural change.
Additionally, it calls on the Member States to strengthen the conditions that support sustainable wage growth in line with national practices and respecting the role of social partners and of social dialogue.
Proposal for a Joint Employment Report
The proposal recognizes the positive impact of social dialogue on making labor markets adaptable to challenges like decarbonization and digitalization.
It urges Member States to promote collective bargaining and social dialogue to support job quality, aligning with the 2023 Council Recommendation and the Pact for European Social Dialogue. Ensuring a stronger collaboration with social partners
It calls finally for a stronger collaboration with social partners to improve job quality ad to support the implementation of recovery and resilience plans and the European Semester.
Background
The Commission promotes social dialogue at the EU level by conducting regular consultations with social partners within the framework of the European Semester, which focuses on coordinating economic and employment policies.
More in particular:
- a consultation at EU level takes place on the key strategic employment and social priorities ahead of the adoption by the Commission of the Semester Autumn Package in November each year.
- another EU-level consultation takes place on the identification of employment and social challenges in Member States and related policy responses each year before the adoption by the Commission of the Semester Spring Package.
- further targeted consultations take place at national level in the context of the European Semester missions.
For more information and contributions from social partners, you can view the complete contents of the 2024 Autumn Package.
