(Brussels, 9 June 2008) The employers and trade unions started an exchange of views on the social consequences of the European Commission’s proposals for the emission trading scheme after 2012. There is great concern on the social implications of the abandonment of free allocations for example and which measures will be taken to mitigate these consequences. Eurelectric and the trade unions agreed to consider this further and invite a representative of the European Commission to a future meeting.

Other issues on the agenda:

Demographic Change : Researcher Jane Pillinger presented the draft of the toolkit. The importance of involvement of the trade unions in an early stage were underlined and a number of cases were presented of policies companies are undertaking.

Restructuring : The researchers of the Working Life Research Institute (Metropolitian University London) presented the draft toolkit, cases and first checklists. The committee agreed that these checklists would have to be more detailed. Both projects will go through a process of consultation and re-writing and should be finalised in early September. The conferences on the projects take place 12 and 14 November (see below)

Corporate Social Responsibility : The draft statement proposed by the trade unions was not adopted. Eurelectric had further comments.

South East European Energy Community : Participants considered the results of the workshop in Vienna (27 May, see www.epsu.org/r/239). The social partners are invited to participate in the Steering Committee to prepare the Social Forum (18-19 November). The trade unions, employers and governments will work in national work groups to prepare their input. The European Commission announced the possibility to study the state of employment in the electricity and gas sector (expected 2009).

Impact Assessment internal market proposals A brief exchange of views took place to demand that the Commission study the impact of the different proposals now circulating regards ownership unbundling, third way etc. This will continue.

The social partners further agreed:

• To indicate to the European Commission that they will not directly participate in the multi-sectoral negotiations on third party violence and want to observe the negotiations. The results of the negotiations will be discussed in the electricity social dialogue committee.

• To consider the social consequences of the Strategic Energy Review foreseen for the end of 2008.

• To agree on how to deal with the follow up to joint positions and statements reached between Eurelectric and the trade unions.

Dates of next meetings:

 6 October Working Group on Social Dialogue Electricity
 12 November Conference on Restructuring, Brussels (open conference)
 13 November Plenary Social Dialogue Committee Electricity
 14 November Conference on Demographic Change (open conference)

For EPSU participated the Deputy General Secretary, the vice-presidents of the Standing Committee Utilities Jan Ruden and Reszo Gal and colleagues from Italy, and Ireland. The Electricity Social Dialogue Committee met 6 June 2008, Brussels