European leaders and European employer and employee representatives, or social partners, on Thursday focused on jobs, growth and investment priorities for Europe at the Tripartite Social Summit.

The summit, which meets twice a year, ahead of the spring and autumn EU summits is an opportunity for a constructive exchange between social partners, the European Commission, EU Heads of State or Government, according to a statement released by the EU on Thursday.

The participants in the summit discussed the EU Member States' economic situation, as well as the progress with the Investment Plan for Europe and the views of social partners on other major EU policy initiatives, such as the Energy Union.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: "I am a strong believer in the social market economy and the social market economy can only work if there is social dialogue. "

European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said: "National social partners can be better involved in the design and implementation of reforms so necessary to strengthen the economic recovery and open up better prospects for the most vulnerable in society".

This was the first Tripartite Social Summit since the new European Commission took office in November.

European heads of state gathered here to hold the regular spring summit debate Thursday, with the development of the Energy Union, situation in Ukraine and relations with Russia and the EU's economic situation top on the agenda. Endit

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