A decade beyond Maastricht: the European Social Dialogue revisited

Abstract:

The European Social Dialogue has made some valuable contributions to the conduct of labour and management relations but it is not without its detractors. This work reflects upon the decade of experience since Maastricht, considers the positives and the negatives, and makes some evaluation as to the way forward.

The book is organised in three parts. Part one, which encompasses the legal framework, opens with a chapter providing background history to the European Social Dialogue. It then moves through discussion of collective agreements in EC law and addresses the contradictions that might arise between collective labour agreements and European competition law. Part two examines the roles of management and labour, placing the Social Dialogue within the European Social Model, and discusses the endeavours for greater convergence. Questions are also asked about the impact of the forthcoming European Constitution. Part three looks at Community Institutions, considering the challenges that face the European Social Dialogue and discussing moves to bring the Commission, the Member States and the social partners into one common meeting place in which to progress the dialogue currently happening in differing forums. The final chapter makes the case for the European Social Dialogue to become a central plank, actually the 'cornerstone' of the European Social Model.

The work will interest scholars, students, practitioners and policy makers engaged in the fields of European Union studies, social sciences and public policy.

Marc de Vos is a Professor at the Ghent University Law School.