When trade unions succeed: Cases of blocked liberalisation in the common market

2014

Despite the generally accepted weakness of trade unions at the European Union level, an analysis of two high profile cases - the Services Directive and the Port Directive - shows that trade unions are able to mobilise effectively at the European level and, within constellations of actors, crucially impact EU decision making. In contrast to common claims that a lack of access to EU institutions makes such groups powerless, it is argued here that the exclusion of large opposing societal groups from consultations is neither a quick nor a sure fire recipe for dismantling opposition.On the contrary,it politicises the process and may lead to opposing groups mobilising in more contentious ways.