Energy Community Social Forum

(20 August 2014) On 17 June the social forum of the energy community took place, as part of a two day meeting of the energy community. For EPSU Jerry van den Berge participated.

The social forum is likely the last that was organised in conjunction with the energy community meeting. Interest from governments and employers in the social forum remains low. Trade union participation from the region is low because of the absence of interpretation as the meetings are all in English.

Jerry stressed the interest of European social partners in a Social Dialogue for the energy community and gave examples of achievements in the sectoral social dialogue electricity.

The planning is that the Energy community will be restructured and continue in another form. The forums will be abandoned. Instead trade unions and employers organisations will have a stronger role in the “permanent high level group (PHLG)”. The PHLG will be strengthened to be a collective decision-making body. The ministerial council will only focus on strategic issues.

Presentations:
-Policy Outlook, by Janez Kopač, Director Energy Community Secretariat


- Social Dialogue in the Energy Community, by Adrian Jasimi Oil Expert
Energy Community Secretariat



- Social dialogue at EU level, by Norbert Schöbel, DG EMPL

Report:


An Energy Community for the future, report by the High Level Reflection Group of the Energy Community