Discussions conducted within the European Union (EU)-Armenia Civil Society Platform framework are a form of cross-border social dialogue established under the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.
According to the CEPA, the EU-Armenia Civil Society Platform "shall be a forum to meet and exchange views for, and consist of representatives of civil society on the side of the EU, including members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), and representatives of civil society organizations, networks, and platforms on the side of the Republic of Armenia, including the Eastern Partnership National Platform ." Thus, the Platform complements the political bodies existing within the framework of the EU-Armenia CEPA and allows civil society organizations from both sides to monitor the implementation process and prepare recommendations to the EU-Armenia Partnership Council and other relevant bodies, both in Armenia and in the EU.
The CSP is made up of members from each side representing three sectors: trade unions, employers' organizations, and other civil society organizations. On the EU side, it is made up of members of the EESC, elected by its competent bodies, as well as representatives of major European social partners' organizations (BusinessEurope on the employers’ side and the European Trade Union Confederation on the workers’ side). On the Armenian side, it is made up of members representing employers (three members), trade unions (three members) and other civil society organizations (four members).
The EU-Armenia CEPA entered into force on 1 March 2021. Its Chapter 15 on "employment, social policy and equal opportunities" commits the Parties to "strengthen their dialogue and cooperation on promoting the International Labour Organisation (‘ILO’) Decent Work Agenda, employment policy, health and safety at work, social dialogue, social protection, social inclusion, gender equality and anti-discrimination, and thereby contribute to the promotion of more and better jobs, poverty reduction, enhanced social cohesion, sustainable development and improved quality of life.”
See more information on the composition and the meetings of this Forum.