Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Despite formal commitments under the European Semester to engage social partners in EU policy coordination, their involvement remains uneven, often symbolic, and lacks structured frameworks in many Member States. Reports by the European Commission, EESC, Eurofound, and European Social Partners confirm persistent challenges: inconsistent consultation quality, limited capacity—especially at regional or sectoral levels—and weak feedback loops where partner input is rarely reflected in outcomes. This undermines the democratic legitimacy of the Semester and social ambition of the EU. The VOICE project addresses these deficits by supporting social partners’ meaningful involvement in the EU Semester. Its objectives include strengthening social partner capacity, enhancing the quality of social partnership, promoting transnational exchange of good practices, and fostering structured participation in designing and implementing EU and national reforms. VOICE combines forward-looking action with historical insight. By analysing key EU strategies—from 1970s employment initiatives to the 1994 White Paper and the 2000 Lisbon Strategy—it identifies long-term trends and their connection to the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) and aligns the current action with today’s social and economic transitions. The project brings together social partners, academic institutions, and research centres to assess what drives successful involvement in the Semester across sectors and Member States. Through three thematic dialogue tables, VOICE explores how social partnership can shape investment readiness for AI, frameworks for a just transition, and implementation of the "5th freedom"—mobility of knowledge and talent. VOICE will develop actionable tools and methodologies to enhance the effectiveness of social partners involvement and contribution in the Semester, ensuring that EU priorities are translated into inclusive, socially sustainable policies.