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

This article offers a short review of the main tools available to the European Union (Eu) for intervening in social and labour policy. This analysis aims to illustrate the themes that are part of the social dialogue in Europe, the European employment strategy (Ees) and the process for coordinating pensions policy, known as the Open Method of Coordination (Omc). For each of these tools we shall try to evaluate the degree of involvement of the social partners, with particular reference to the trade union movement. Beyond the European rhetoric based on «social partnership», the concrete development of the three processes illustrates a limited involvement of the unions in European governance with the risk of making their influence on the European agenda for social and labour policy marginal. only subscribers can see the full article