Undoubtedly, that the enlarged European Union eventually with 27 or more members and around 500 million people will considerably differ from the current EU15. The shape of this new EU (and that of the whole European continent) is, however, somewhat unclear yet. This paper addresses one specific question only: what might be the implications of the foreseen enlargement rounds on social dialogue in the EU, taking into account the developments that are likely to take place in industrial relations of the future new Member States in the years to come, due partly to the preparation for membership. The paper argues that if special efforts are not made in the candidate countries to strengthen their industrial relations and, especially, their social partners, European social dialogue might be in trouble.
International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations