Conference "Towards Smart Bargaining in Europe's Services Sector”

December 4, 2025

4 December 2025 - Brussels, Belgium

About the event

Towards Smart Bargaining in Europe’s Services Sector brings together trade unions, employers, policymakers, and researchers to discuss how collective bargaining can adapt to Europe’s fast-changing services sector. Building on research done in Croatia, Türkiye, Serbia, Slovakia, Czechia, North Macedonia, Italy, Romania, and France, the one-day event explores how smart dialogue can improve bargaining outcomes in Europe’s Care, Finance, Publishing, and Commerce sector. Key speakers include representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, UNI Europa, and national social partners from across Europe. Together, they will discuss how to strengthen collective bargaining coverage and build more resilient social dialogue in Europe’s services sector.

Date, Time and Place

Thursday 4 December 2025: 9:00 - 16:30 CET
Atelier29: Rue Jacques de Lalaing 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Draft agenda

8:30 - 9:15	Walk-in & coffee
9:30 - 9:45	Introduction *Fiona Dragstra* - WageIndicator
9:45 - 10:00	UNI Europa and Europe's services sector *Stan De Spiegelaere* - UNI Europa
10:00 - 10:45	Deep dive in the care sector Alan Sable (UNI Global Union)Jakov Kolak (RITU – Croatia)Sylvia Scepkova (UniJA - Slovakia)Ibrahim Koç (Saglik-Is – Türkiye) Moderation: Valeria Pulignano
10:45 - 11:15	Coffee break
11:15 - 12:15	Smart bargaining in Europe's services sector: what is needed? Diana Crumpana (European Commission)Oliver Roethig (Regional Secretary UNI Europa)Branislav Ondrus (MEP for Slovakia) Moderation: Stan De Spiegelaere (UNI Europa)
12:15 - 13:00	Lunch break
13:00 - 13:45	Deep dive in the finance sector Jana Szászová (OZBP – Slovakia)Adrian Soare (FSAB – Romania)tbc Moderation: Hrvoje Butkovic
13:45 - 14:30	Deep dive in the publishing sector Ilyas Coskun (TGS – Türkiye)Ilenia Ventroni (UNI Europa)Darije Hanzalek (SGIM - Croatia) Moderation: tbc
14:30 - 15:00	Coffee break
15:00 - 15:45	Deep dive in the commerce sector Nikoletta Kiss (UNI Europa)Peter Jančík (OZPOCR – Slovakia)Vasille Gogescu (FSC – Romania) Moderation: Jana Krstevska
15:45 - 16:15	Closing Marta Kahancová - CELSI