Industrial democracy from a European perspective : the example of SEs

The article deals with the forthcoming challenges to the German system of co-determination (Mitbestimmung ) arising from the Europeanization of industrial relations (IR) in general and the European Company (Societas Europaea — SE) in particular. After some short remarks on co-determination’s national history and present challenges, recent political controversies are discussed. Then the most important European regulations on employee involvement are analysed from a German perspective. The main part of the article presents some first empirical results on the new SE form with particular emphasis on its impact on the existing German system. Finally, some tentative conclusions are made