Press Release: Remarks by Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, following the Tripartite Social Summit, Brussels, 24 March 2011

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the EU Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor, the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy and Hungarian Prime minister Viktor Orban – for the Presidency of the Council – have met at the Tripartite Social Summit with European workers' and employers' representatives.

Their discussions focused on the effect of budgetary and fiscal consolidation on jobs and growth as well as the governance role of social partners. The Prime Ministers and Employment Ministers of the forthcoming Polish and Danish Presidencies also took part in the discussion.