EUROPEAN WORKS COUNCILS IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES - AN OPPORTUNITY AND A CHALLENGE FOR TRADE-UNIONISM

The Nordic countries have a long tradition of joint consultation and c ooperation at workplace and company level. This article presents and c ompares the findings of studies in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Swede n on the implementation of the EU Directive on European Works Councils . It attempts to explain why in particular a great number of Norwegian and Finnish multinationals have concluded so-called Article 13 agreem ents. A central focus is on the relations between European Works Counc ils and trade unions.