We are pleased to present the latest edition of our newsletter. In this edition, we are taking a closer look at trade unions and other forms of employee representation. Such institutions play a key role in the relationship between employees and employers. While their structure, scope of authority, and importance may vary across countries, they share a common purpose: to represent the interests of employees vis-à-vis the employer, both in individual and collective matters.

In many European countries, such bodies have a long-standing tradition, are deeply rooted in the culture of social dialogue, and play a significant role in shaping working conditions, labour law, and employment policy more broadly.

The purpose of this newsletter is to provide a cross-sectional overview of the functioning of trade unions and employee representatives in selected European jurisdictions. We will examine issues such as the legal basis for their activities, the mandatory or voluntary nature of their presence in the workplace, their role in both individual and collective labour relations, as well as the level of protection afforded to their members.

We will also address the issue of how widespread these institutions are in practice—for example, by looking at the percentage of employers or employees covered by trade union representation or similar bodies in each country.

This comparative perspective helps to better understand the diversity of social dialogue models across Europe.

We hope you will enjoy reading this newsletter.