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13-06-2005: Milestone on path towards social dialogue in central public administration On 10 June, 2005 the joint trade union delegation made up of representatives from CESI and EPSU came together in Mondorf-les-Bains (Luxemburg) for a meeting with the Directors General for Public Service. It was the first joint appearance by the two trade unions before the Directors General from the 25 EU Member States. The focal point of the meeting concerned the prospects for building on the hitherto informal meetings with a view to a more structured Social Dialogue, with the possibility of concluding pan-European agreements for public service employees. The Directors General welcomed - as had their ministers two days previously - the formation of the joint, pluralistic trade union delegation, affirming their intention to strengthen the Social Dialogue and see how employers could participate in a Social Dialogue. Following the meeting, CESI General Secretary Helmut Müllers spoke of an historic day for CESI: "CESI has fought for trade union pluralism and a say in the Social Dialogue since first it was founded. Now, it will soon be recognised as a European social partner. The Cooperation Agreement signed on 2 February, 2005 with EPSU and today’s meeting are milestones for CESI along this path. Nonetheless, now it’s the turn of the ministers and Directors General. Some Member States clearly still need to be convinced." Müllers also said: "We owe thanks to the Luxemburg Council Presidency, who were instrumental in the progress made over the last few months. We hope that this positive work will be continued under the UK Presidency and we are confident that we will soon be able to point to concrete results." CESI’s four-strong delegation was made up, alongside Müllers, of Romain Wolff (CGFP, Luxemburg), Frank Stöhr (dbb, Germany) and Christian Chapuis (FP-CGC, France).

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