CHAPTER IOBJECTIVES AND TASKS

Article 1Establishment and objectives

1.

The European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions, (Eurofound), is hereby established as a Union Agency.

2.

Eurofound's objective shall be to provide the Commission, other Union institutions, bodies and agencies, the Member States and the social partners with support for the purpose of shaping and implementing policies concerning the improvement of living and working conditions, devising employment policies, and promoting the dialogue between management and labour.

To that end, Eurofound shall enhance and disseminate knowledge, provide evidence and services for the purpose of policy making, including research-based conclusions, and shall facilitate knowledge sharing among and between Union and national actors.

Article 2Tasks

1.

Eurofound shall have the following tasks with respect to the policy areas referred to in Article 1(2), while fully respecting the responsibilities of the Member States:

(a)

analyse developments and provide comparative analyses of policies, institutional frameworks and practices in Member States and, where relevant, other countries;

(b)

collect data, for instance by means of surveys, and analyse trends in living and working conditions, employment and labour market developments;

(c)

analyse the developments in industrial relation systems and in particular social dialogue at Union level and in the Member States;

(d)

carry out or commission studies and carry out research on relevant socioeconomic developments and related policy issues;

(e)

carry out, where relevant and at the request of the Commission, pilot projects and preparatory actions;

(f)

provide forums for exchange of experiences and information between the governments, the social partners and other stakeholders at national level, including through evidence-based information and analysis;

(g)

manage and make available tools and datasets to policymakers, the social partners, academic bodies and other stakeholders;

(h)

establish a strategy for relations with third countries and international organisations in accordance with Article 30 concerning matters for which Eurofound is competent.

2.

Where new studies are needed, and before taking policy decisions, the Union institutions shall take into account Eurofound's expertise and any studies that it has conducted in the area concerned or that it is able to conduct, in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council8.

3.

Eurofound may conclude cooperation agreements with other relevant Union agencies in order to facilitate and promote cooperation with them.

4.

In carrying out its tasks, Eurofound shall maintain a close dialogue particularly with specialised bodies, whether public or private, national or international, with public authorities, with academic and research bodies, with employers' and employees' organisations, and with national tripartite bodies where they exist. Without prejudice to its objectives and purposes, Eurofound shall cooperate with other Union agencies, in particular EU-OSHA and Cedefop, promoting synergies and complementarity with their activities, while avoiding any duplication of efforts.