Jon Erik Dølvik - NORDIC TRADE UNIONS AND THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF

The purpose of this article is to summarise some of the options and the strategic concerns of Nordic trade unions associated with the development of transnational trade union and labour policies at the EC level. [...] 14 4 The Nordic Trade Unions and the Social Dimension of the Internal Market The Nordic debate concerning the development of labour policies at the EC-level was prompted by negotiations over the EEA agreement, following the Single Market programme. [...] The ETUC and the Commission have had a certain common interest in the promotion of the Social Dimension and the Social Dialogue to bolster their credibility and mutual recognition as European actors, and to enhance the legitimacy of EC integration as such. [...] According to Streeck (1993), the Maastricht co-decision-making procedure was intended by the Commission as a step towards a 26 However, the central role played by the Commission in this process, the unclear mandates of the involved group of negotiators, and the fact that the 31st of October agreement was not dealt with in the Executive of either the ETUC or the UNICE, have caused Nordic concern. [...] Therefore the Nordic unions have stressed the need for revision and clarification of the statutes and decision-making processes of the ETUC, particularly with respect to the formulation of claims, the authorisation of negotiators and the approval of agreements.