This article uses the concept of ‘designing institutions’
and a heuristic model of strategic options to address two questions. First, what
institutional changes support a social Europe? This question is examined on the
basis of recent developments in the European Union regarding macro-economic
dialogue and the unions’ own policies of European coordination.
Second, what is the influence of these changes on national trade unions? The
conclusion is that institutional changes are limited, and strong national unions
remain the central agents of transnational coordination. The European Trade
Union Confederation and the European Industry Federations administer the new
coordination procedures, but their status is not enhanced structurally.
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