Brussels, 15/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - Further to their first round table held end December in Budapest on the theme of "life-long learning" with their national affiliates, the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (UEAPME) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) launched a pilot project supported by the European Commission and aimed at implementing social acquis and social dialogue in SMEs of Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) and at supporting the efforts of social partners along these lines.
In order to consolidate the theme of industrial relations between the EU and these countries, the UEAPME and ETUC are organising a round table on 27 and 28 January in Bratislava as well as a closing seminar on 5 April in Brussels. The conclusions of the national round tables will be used in order to develop exchanges on social acquis, the role of social dialogue and the future challenges that SMEs will have to face in the CEECs.