Home page > Topics > Topic 3, Workshop 1 : Local governance: fostering social dialogue at the local level (LOGOSSD European Forum)

Topic 3 : Making local areas active partners in globalisation

Workshop 3.1 : Local governance: fostering social dialogue at the local level (LOGOSSD European Forum)

Complete file of the workshop _ English and french version

Workshops Topic 3 :

In the context of globalisation, social dialogue is confronted with two phenomena which influence change. First of all, in many sectors, the scope of competition and cooperation has widened to a global scale. Second, evolving production systems and the growing use of outsourcing and sub-contracting reinforce the interaction of companies with the local social context and make cities and regions a focal point for dialogue on economic and social development.

These phenomena, combined with the rising concern of local authorities for social and environmental issues, have led to profound changes in relations between businesses and the places where they operate, with a trend towards greater mutual openness. This is why large metropolitan areas, where economic and social aspects are inextricably linked, constitute an important platform for social dialogue.

The need to formulate policies that take account of long-term stakes means associating the various stakeholders to formulate and implement public policies. For a city or local area affected by the evolution of an industry, or that depends on a dwindling resource, understanding these major changes requires the actors to take a concerted approach to identifying the stakes, applying effective anticipatory strategies and providing any necessary assistance.

Sectors function primarily in a territorial context and rarely concern the entire country, but rather certain regions of a country, and work in relation with certain regions of other countries. In the same way, many large corporations function in a multi-territorial context, rather than multinational. Globalisation ties together groups of regions linked by shared or complementary economic activities in relationships characterised by competition, cooperation and solidarity.

To treat economic and social change in the context of globalisation, we need to adopt a concerted, well-defined and regulated approach to economic transformations, working with all actors of the concerned territories. The challenge is thus to develop an inter-territorial approach to sectorial relations and to ensure a greater contribution of sectoral social dialogue to urban governance. The advantage of a dual sectoral/territorial approach is that it also allows for greater consideration of the role and specific concerns of Small and Medium Enterprises, which tend to be neglected in sectorial debate at the supranational level.

The European LOGOSSD Forum has the twin purpose of highlighting the European approach to sectorial social dialogue and integrating this approach into the strategic context of globalisation. It will bring together 300 participants, comprising 150 representatives of social partners from the 25 Member States of the European Union and from the two acceding countries (Bulgaria and Romania) and two candidate countries (Croatia and Turkey), who will be joined by the local elected officials present at the various international events leading up to the Forum.

Discussions will focus on:

What lessons can be learned from the European approach to sectorial social dialogue in the strategic context of globalisation and how can sectorial social dialogue be promoted at the local level, in connection with actors of European social dialogue in the various economic sectors?
How can social dialogue be made an integral part of urban and local governance, giving momentum to cooperation among actors in order to encourage economic and social innovation?
How can we develop the sharing of experiences and joint projects among the social partners in cities and regions of different parts of the world?
How can social partners be made effective actors in inter-regional cooperation?

Speakers

Chair: Jackie Morin, Head of Unit Employment, DG Social Affairs, European Commission

Workshop Moderator: Robert Villeneuve, LOGOSSD Project Director, Eurexcter

Case Study Presenters:

Dolors Llobet, Confederal Secretary, Secretariat of Socioeconomic Action, CCOO de Catalunya, Spain; Andreu Morillas, Secretary for Economy, Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain; Albert Roca, Head of Studies, Micro, Petita I Mitjana Empresa de Catalunya (PIMEC), Spain; Joaquim Trigo, Executive Director, Foment del Treball, Spain
France Joubert, Project Manager for Europe, Carrefour de l’Innovation Sociale du Travail et de l’Emploi (CISTE), France ; Jean Grellier, Vice-President, Poitou-Charentes Regional Council, France ; Bernard Painault, Chief Executive Officer, Sothoferm, France
Susanna Camusso, Secretary General, CGIL Lombardia, Italy

Discussants:

François Auguste, Vice-President, Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, France or Christine Puthod, Vice-President, Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, France
Robert Hanskens, Director, Centre International de Formation des Acteurs Locaux (CIFAL), France
Emmanuel Julien, Deputy director for social affairs, MEDEF, France
Tunde Komoroczki, Member of the Board, KISOSZ, Hungary
Jeremy Smith, Secretary-General, Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)

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