The paper focuses on the importance of social dialogue in the enlargement process of the European Union, intended as a support for the strategy of convergence towards the progressive reduction of existent economic and social gaps between the new member countries and the rest of the Union. It is clear that the efficacy of European social dialogue depends on the existence of a solid national industrial relations system, and thus on the stronger legitimisation and representativeness of the social partners and the development of collective bargaining.only subscribers can see the full article