As a part of European social model, European Trade Union Confederation: Foundation, trade union perceptions and its impact on shaping the social Europe

Certain concepts such as democracy, free collective bargaining, trade union rights, social welfare and market economy are essential for European social model debates. Institutions and organizations created and supported by the European Union plays important role for the successful application of these issues. In particular, the role of trade unions is also extremely important for embodiment of some values such as trade union rights, democracy, free collective bargaining. In this context, investigating the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) 's influence in creation of the European Social Model would be appropriate for a deeper understanding. ETUC was set up in 1973 with 17 member organizations from 15 countries. It should be state that affecting the regulation of European Union policies on behalf of the workers is the main objective of ETUC. High quality jobs for all, a high level of social protection, gender equality and fair pay, equal opportunities, social inclusion and fundamental rights, decent health and safety regulations at work, freedom of movement for European workers, high quality public services that are accessible to all, a European framework to raise the standard of national social legislation, action to combat climate change while protecting workers' jobs and promotion of these European social values in other parts of the world are the other fundamental aims of ETUC. Therefore, the fundamental assets expressed in the European Social Model match up with the main objectives set out by the ETUC in content and philosophy. For this reason, open relationship of European Social Model and the ETUC up for discussion becomes meaningful. In this studey ETUC's activities and policies will be investigated. Also, historical background of European trade unionism, ETUC's position and influence within the European trade union movement will be the other discussion in the study. Key Words: ETUC, European Union Social Policy, Social Dialogue, European Trade Union Movement, European Integration Process