A More ‘Autonomous’ European Social Dialogue: The Implementation of the Framework Agreement on Telework

Abstract

This paper examines the implementation of the first ‘autonomous’ agreement signed by the European social partners. The European Framework Agreement on Telework of July 2002 was to be implemented ‘in accordance with the procedures and practices specific to management and labour and the Member States’, using the first implementation route of Article 139 (2) of the EC Treaty. The paper describes and examines the measures taken in the 27 Member States of the European Union as well as Iceland and Norway. The final conclusion of this study is that in implementing the European Framework Agreement on Telework, most social partners and Member States have followed, as intended, methods conforming to their industrial relations traditions. There were very few surprises, though some interesting examples of renewal of the social dialogue process itself were noted.