Trade Unions and Employers´ Associations on the Way to Multi-Level Social Dialogue – comparison between Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia

Mansfeldova, Zdenka. (2007) Trade Unions and Employers´ Associations on the Way to Multi-Level Social Dialogue – comparison between Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia. In European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 2007 (10th), May 17-19, 2007, pages 26, Montreal, Canada.

Abstract

The goal of the proposed paper is to show how the process of European integration has affected organised interest groups and interest representation in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia especially in the field of social dialogue. Accession to the EU has opened up a new space for social partners and representatives of interests of entrepreneurs, employers and employees, giving them new options and putting them face to face with new challenges. This concerns not only activities at the supranational level, but also the creation of new activities at the national level with the goal of implementing European policies and the use of European funds. Trade unions and employers´ associations are subjects with prominent position and permanent access to political decision-makers, thanks to that they have a tremendous chance to influence the shape of public policies. They played an important role during the transfer to a market economy in the process of economic restructuring, and their importance has increased as a result of both the accession of the countries to the European Union and their subsequent contributions to the European social dialogue. An important aspect of the participation in policy formation is the formalisation and structuring of consultation. Attention will be paid to different strategies chosen in the investigated countries with the aim to harmonise the interests and intensify the dialogue between economic and social partners at the national and European levels.