• European Council
• Press release
• 18 March 2026 16:40

Main messages from the Tripartite Social Summit of 18 March 2026

EU leaders and social partners met in Brussels for the Tripartite Social Summit, a twice-yearly forum for dialogue that brings together the leaders of the EU institutions and the European social partners. Today’s discussion focused on ‘Investment for a vibrant European economy and quality jobs’.

In particular, the following topics were addressed:

• closing the investment gaps
• reducing strategic dependencies

A more integrated and harmonised EU single market is vital to building a competitive social market economy. By investing in areas such as education, skills and affordable housing, we can successfully tackle the EU’s strategic dependencies, create high-quality jobs, ensure prosperity and protect our citizens in an increasingly challenging geopolitical environment.

António Costa, President of the European Council

Our social market economy is what protects Europe’s social fabric in these volatile times. And we must strengthen it even further. As the war in the Gulf drives energy prices up again, our immediate focus has to be on protecting our most vulnerable consumers and businesses. With short-term relief for those who urgently need it. And by strengthening our independence thanks to the phase-out of unstable fossil fuel imports. As we design solutions, it is vital to engage closely with the social partners and I’m thankful for our cooperation.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

In Cyprus there is a long tradition of social dialogue. By working side by side with social partners, our government ensures that employment policies are not simply imposed, but constructed together. The effective tripartite cooperation at national level – hand in hand with bold reforms – has contributed to the highest employment rate in Cyprus’ history, reaching 81.3% in 2025, while unemployment has dropped to 4.4% (2025) – the lowest level since 2008. At the same time, Cyprus has sustained one of the fastest economic growth rates in the EU estimated at 4% for 2026, while the average wage increased by 13.2% – the largest rise since 1993 – and pensions in 2025 rose by nearly 6%. From national to EU level, a strong social dialogue is a major pillar of our Union’s competitiveness and a priority for the Cyprus Presidency.

Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU

The war in the Middle East, which comes on top of the Russian aggression war against Ukraine, makes it even more important to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. To create a vibrant economy with quality jobs in Europe, enterprises require a more integrated Single Market and less volatile and lower energy costs. They also call for less regulatory burden, putting the Think Small First principle into practice, as well as quality services of general interest and a skilled workforce. Employers count on the European Council to agree an ambitious roadmap with concrete measures and timelines. The need to act without delay is greater than ever.

Fredrik Persson, President of BusinessEurope, representing employers (BusinessEurope, SGI Europe, SMEunited)

Europe must increase investment to match its ambitions to deliver for workers. Meeting today’s economic, social and geopolitical challenges requires a major leap in public investment at European level, including through common instruments such as eurobonds. This must go hand in hand with a robust European industrial policy and a Made in Europe approach that creates quality jobs based on fair wages, strong workers’ rights, collective bargaining and high social and environmental standards. Europe’s workers are already paying the price of successive shocks, with cost-of-living crises and job losses mounting across the economy. The EU must urgently bring in crisis management tools to protect jobs and production in strategic sectors, building on the success of SURE, and stronger internal demand through higher wages and bargaining coverage. A European Quality Jobs Act is essential to tackle precarious work and abuse and ensure fair working conditions instead.

Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
The European cross-industry social partners also conveyed the following joint message during the meeting of the Tripartite Social Summit and in view of the upcoming European Council discussions on 19-20 March: ‘ The European social partners expressed deep concerns about the deterioration of the economic situation and its negative impact on employment in Europe. The urgency to act in order to deliver concrete measures that will attract the investment that is necessary for a vibrant economy with quality jobs is greater than ever. Enhancing investment and employment requires improving overall investment conditions as well as a Multiannual Financial Framework that is commensurate with the EU policy objectives including employment, skills and social cohesion. In this context, the EU social partners underlined the crucial role of the European Social Fund and the European Competitiveness Fund.’

The views cited in this text are those of the individual / organisation concerned and do not collectively constitute the point of view of the Council or the European Council.

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Topics
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- Social policy

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