Thursday, January 20, 2005
[IWS] The Role of Social Dialogue in the Acceding Countries during the Preparatory Phase for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
IWS Documented News Service
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Institute for Workplace Studies Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 Director, IWS News Bureau
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The Role of Social Dialogue in the Acceding Countries during the Preparatory Phase for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
Christian Welz, Timo Kauppinen
http://www.kluwerlawonline.com/document.php?id=IJCL2004030
[full-text, 21 pages]
appearing in The International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations, Vol. 20, Issue 4, 2004
Abstract:
The expansion of the European Union to a further 10 countries in May 2004 gives rise to new challenges. Different experiences call for initiatives based on an understanding of the acceding countries, while the demands of Economic and Monetary Union cannot be underestimated. As from May 2004, the acceding countries are eligible to apply for membership of the Euro zone provided they fulfil the Maastricht convergence criteria. How their respective industrial relations systems respond to this challenge will play a crucial role in determining the ease of transition towards an enlarged EU. The aim of this article is to examine how social dialogue can best be used in preparation for EMU to ensure economic growth in harmony with employment and social protection. The specific features of the national systems of industrial relations in the new Member States are examined, with a particular focus on the capacity of the acceding countires to support convergence towards the Maastricht criteria by means of social dialogue. The analysis also touches on the political implications of implementation of the EMU criteria, as the role of the social partners and social dialogue in enlargement and preparation for EMU is far from negligible. Social dialogue is an important element of the acquis communautaire, as shown by the draft Constitutional Treaty, Article I-47. It is also an important implementation tool of the acquis in the field of social policy, where the expertise of the social partners is required by the principle of horizontal subsidiarity. With a view to facilitating the transition, the article highlights the need for EU institutions and the social partners in the EU 15 Member States to invest time and resources in social dialogue capacity-building in the acceding countries.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky *
Director, IWS News Bureau *
Institute for Workplace Studies *
Cornell/ILR School *
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor *
New York, NY 10016 *
*
Telephone: (607) 255-2703 *
Fax: (607) 255-9641 *
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu *
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_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
The Role of Social Dialogue in the Acceding Countries during the Preparatory Phase for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
Christian Welz, Timo Kauppinen
http://www.kluwerlawonline.com/document.php?id=IJCL2004030
[full-text, 21 pages]
appearing in The International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations, Vol. 20, Issue 4, 2004
Abstract:
The expansion of the European Union to a further 10 countries in May 2004 gives rise to new challenges. Different experiences call for initiatives based on an understanding of the acceding countries, while the demands of Economic and Monetary Union cannot be underestimated. As from May 2004, the acceding countries are eligible to apply for membership of the Euro zone provided they fulfil the Maastricht convergence criteria. How their respective industrial relations systems respond to this challenge will play a crucial role in determining the ease of transition towards an enlarged EU. The aim of this article is to examine how social dialogue can best be used in preparation for EMU to ensure economic growth in harmony with employment and social protection. The specific features of the national systems of industrial relations in the new Member States are examined, with a particular focus on the capacity of the acceding countires to support convergence towards the Maastricht criteria by means of social dialogue. The analysis also touches on the political implications of implementation of the EMU criteria, as the role of the social partners and social dialogue in enlargement and preparation for EMU is far from negligible. Social dialogue is an important element of the acquis communautaire, as shown by the draft Constitutional Treaty, Article I-47. It is also an important implementation tool of the acquis in the field of social policy, where the expertise of the social partners is required by the principle of horizontal subsidiarity. With a view to facilitating the transition, the article highlights the need for EU institutions and the social partners in the EU 15 Member States to invest time and resources in social dialogue capacity-building in the acceding countries.
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
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# posted by SBasefsky : 8:32 AM
