The activities of the ETUI-REHS Research department are organised into three programme areas

• The world of labour and the modernisation of the trade unions;

• Europeanisation of workers' representation;

• European economic, employment and social policies.

The world of labour and the modernisation of the trade unions – This area addresses the question of how European trade unions can respond to the structural developments in modern capitalist societies towards more service-based activities, with the changing pattern of cross-border traffic or goods, services and jobs as well as other kinds of challenges such as the falling number of trade union members and the changing values among wage earners. The development of trade union models in the new member states and special interest trade unions is also examined.

Europeanisation of Workers' representation – this area covers the investigation and monitoring of the development of different forms of worker representation and interest mediation. The main focus is on investigating the possibilities for and obstacles to more influence on the side of wage earners, their elected representatives and their trade unions at different levels. From the enterprise level via the sectoral level to the national and international level, different forms of worker representation and collective agreements are analysed.

European economic, employment and social policies – this area covers the monitoring, analysis and assessment of European policies with special attention to the macro-economic, employment and social policy fields. The research work takes into account the diverse nature of social models and employment régimes that are found within Europe and how structural changes are affecting these models and régimes.