Small business lobby UEAPME’s bid to mount a legal challenge to the EU’s social dialogue system

Date: 18/06/1998

was quashed by the European Court of First Instance yesterday (17 June). The organisation had hoped to challenge the validity of the Union's parental leave directive, which is based on an agreement drawn up by 'social partners' - the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), private employers federation UNICE and public sector employers organisation CEEP. UEAPME argued it should have been involved in the negotiations as well as it represents more than 9 million businesses with over 30 million employees. But the Luxembourg court ruled that the organisation did not have sufficient grounds to bring a case. UEAPME says it will appeal against the decision.