The Internal Market and the Future of Labour Law in Europe: Insights from the Nordic Countries

EU law has influenced the Nordic labour law systems considerably. Although, an overall feeling that this has not caused many problems, some matters have been considered problematic. The problems concerns mainly two areas: Collective agreements and the labour market parties' freedom, and the question about social dumping. The author argues that the growing amount of EU legislation has reduced the labour market parties' freedom, and that the Laval case and its followers have challenged the Nordic labour law systems and traditions. Further, the author questions if the ongoing harmonization within the European Union not is downwards when it comes to the labour market and social standards.