Demetriades, Stavroula

This paper aims to give a flavour of the latest developments across Europe and inform policy makers of topical issues. It will present measures taken in response to the recession (both employment market measures and financial stimulus packages), outline the extent of social partner involvement, and the actions taken so far by the social partners. According to the European Commission, there is still room for policy learning across Member States (European Commission, 2009c p. 42). The material for this report has been gathered mainly from Eurofound’s European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) and from its European restructuring monitor (ERM), and is supplemented by findings from desk research.

Globalisation is having a profound impact on economies and industrial relations systems all around the world. In the context of global competition, it is increasingly relevant to look at Europe's economic development in a wider perspective. This report explores the main industrial relations developments in the European Union, Japan and the US in the period 2006-2007. It charts the similarities and trends in industrial relations as well as the differences in basic structures and developments between these three major economies.

Initiatives promoting reconciliation of work and family life have become popular across Europe as part of employment policies as well as social policies dealing, among other things, with the challenges of competitiveness, the renewed Lisbon targets for increased participation in the labour market, and an ageing population. This working paper is based on national reports and an analysis of EIRO articles on the subject. It examines the current position in the 25 EU Member States, Norway and the two acceding countries, Bulgaria and Romania, in terms of legislation and collective bargaining on the issue of the reconciliation of family and work life. It also looks at the positions of the social partners and reviews recent developments at EU level.