• Where should the balance lie between deregulation of markets and a strong public role in framing competition and supporting investment in the supply-side resource base of infrastructure, skills and production networks?
• Can the “open method of coordination” (OMC) deliver policy goals in areas of national sensitivity?
• What role have trade unions played in these debates?

These issues are explored in this volume, which is the result of a joint project developed by the European Trade Union Institute and the SALTSA Programme. The analysis of the Cardiff process in six countries (Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Italy, France and the UK) is presented here.

Table of contents