National and European Administration
Austerity measures, workers' information and consultation rights, access to and quality of administrations, trust in governments, quality and diversity, well-being at work are key concerns that guide EPSU’s work in national and European administration. As representatives of workers in this sector, EPSU works hard to address these core issues through social dialogue with employers at national and European level. We are active on behalf of prison service staff, tax collectors, embassy staff, labour inspectors and many more.
EPSU is the recognized and most representative European social partner in central governments that employ more than 9 million workers and civil servants. in central government administrations. More can be read about the structure and background of the Social Dialogue Committee here. In October 2023 the NEA Standing Committee elected Karin Brunzell, ST Sweden, and Alain Parisot, UNSA France, as co-chairs of the Committee, and Federico Trastulli, UILPA Italy, as vice-chair. Nadja Salson is the EPSU Policy Officer responsible for the sector.
EPSU’s work in this sector has led a number of campaigns, most notably on tax justice and transparency. Our NEA work also incorporates advocacy and training for workers on the frontline of refugee and migrant reception services.
View contactsSocial partners take action against third-party violence and harassment at work
An unprecedented number of European sectoral trade unions and employers launched negotiations on third-party violence and harassment at work on Tuesday, 19 March 2024, with the support of the European Commission.
Schmit reassures social partners for central governments their digitalisation agreement is in friends’ hands
In a meeting held at the Berlaymont on 19 February, Commissioner Schmit welcomed the EU sectoral agreement on digitalisation and the signatory social partners’ request to implement it through EU legislation.
Right to disconnect: implement the EU social partners agreement in Central Government Administrations
Speaking at an event on the Right to Disconnect hosted by the S&D Group in the European Parliament, EPSU General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan reiterated the urgent need to make the right to disconnect a reality.
EU social partners in central governments urge Commission to enforce their agreement’s provisions on telework and right to disconnect
Following years of discussions and joint guidelines on digital technologies in central government administrations, an agreement on digitalisation was signed on 6 October 2022.
INQPS project – insourcing, remunicipalisation and quality public services
In April 2023 EPSU and PSI, the European and global trade union federations representing public service workers, launched the INQPS project aimed at developing an online course on insourcing/remunicipalisation –
National and European Administration: EPSU affiliates discuss new leadership, digitalisation, good administration and more
By acclamation the NEA Standing Committee elected Karin Brunzell ST Sweden and Alain Parisot UNSA France as co-chairs of the Committee, and Federico Trastulli, UILPA, Italy as vice-chair.
Digitalisation: more flexibility for some but less autonomy for others
Digitalisation can deliver better work-life balance but the risks of greater control and monitoring of workers are significant. This is one of the key conclusions of a two-year research project on digitalisation in the public services that concluded with a conference in Brussels on 25 September.
Multi-sectoral project on “the role of social partners in preventing third-party violence and harassment at work"
HOSPEEM, EPSU, CEMR, CESI as co-applicants and ETF, ETNO, ETUCE, EUPAE, UITP as associated organisations have been provided with financial support from the European Commission for a joint project in the field of social dialogue: “The role of social partners in preventing third-party violence and harassment at work” in the years 2021 and 2023 (VS/2021/0046).
More support needed for health, care, and public service workers in new Mental Health Strategy
EPSU welcomes the European Commission’s proposed Mental Health Strategy but cautions that the strategy cannot achieve its goals without directly addressing the serious problems already facing the workers who will be instrumental in its implementation.
Will EU’s new fiscal rules hinder urgent action on staffing crises?
Public service federation EPSU is concerned that the proposed reform of the European Union’s fiscal rules, published yesterday, might undermine national action to address the widespread staffing shortages across a broad range of public services in Europe – in health and social care, the justice system, childcare, tax administrations, utilities and more.