ABSTRACT
In as much as European Union (EU)-level political and economic decisions and dynamics are increasingly influencing, shaping and changing national structures, decision making procedures and power relations, research in these areas has concluded that 'Europeanisation matters'. In F. Traxler's view the 'Europeanisation of bargaining' can take place only in a way which is compatible with the given institutional diversity of bargaining systems across the EU. Beside the analytical focus on Europeanisation processes at national level, the concept of 'Europeanisation' has also traditionally been applied to the dimension of 'institution building' at European level. The Europeanisation of industrial relations and the dynamics as well as the limits of trans- and supranational developments need to be located in relation to the different patterns and new modes of regulation that have been adopted and initiated over the past decade. The specific procedures for implementing the European Works Council Directive not only mobilised employee representatives and management but also strengthened the Europeanisation of trade unions.
