The main objective of the project is to analyze whether trade unions are able to undertake effective actions aiming at upward convergence of social standards and welfare systems in the EU in the context of clear disparity in industrial relations systems among EU countries and the weak EU level industrial relations in CEE countries.

The aim of the research study is to analyze perceptions among European trade unions on what steps are necessary to be taken in order to ensure enlargement of the European Social Model to the New Member States. There will be two dimensions of analysis conducted: internal and external.

The research project will present the views of trade unions from CEE in relation to the essential elements of industrial relations which have impact on upward convergence of social standards process. In order to achieve it the project focuses at expanding the knowledge on European comparative industrial relations by reconstructing dominant narratives of trade unions from the NMS of CEE in the above mentioned context, and subjecting the views expressed by CEE trade union representatives to critical assessment by the “Western” experts. The research will focus primarily on gathering opinions of CEE trade unions on the most controversial elements of internal European trade unions; discussion linked to the East –West divergences.