Representativeness studies

Representativeness is a criterion used by the Commission to identify the ‘management and labour’ whom it must consult under article 154 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and who may initiate social dialogue leading to Council decision's under article 155 of the same treaty. In 2006 the European Commission mandated Eurofound to carry out studies on the representativeness of European sectoral social partner organisations.

These 'representativeness studies' are designed to provide basic information needed for the setting up and functioning of sectoral social dialogue committees at European level. The sectoral social dialogue committees are the mechanism used by the Commission to consult management and labour under article 154 TFEU.

Representativeness
Social dialogue
Social partners
Industrial relations

Related content

Sectors covered

Eurofound has studied the representativeness of social partner organisations in the following sectors:

Sectors in progress: Graphical (2025); Agriculture (2025); Temporary Agency Work (2025); Tanning/leather (2025); Footwear (2025); Ports (2025); Maritime transport (2025); Sugar (2026); Inland waterway transport (2026); Central government administration (2026); Railways (2026); Commerce and e-commerce (2026).

Earlier representativeness studies were coordinated by the Catholic University of Louvain.

Methodology

The data are gathered by the Network of Eurofound Correspondents under the direction of Eurofound research managers and the social partners are consulted throughout the process. For more details see the methodology page.

Outcomes

The results of the study are the identification of the European sectoral associations which are representative and therefore can be included in the European sectoral social dialogue.

Disclaimer

When freely submitting your request, you are consenting Eurofound in handling your personal data to reply to you. Your request will be handled in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data. More information, please read the Data Protection Notice.