of the Eucob@n system in 2006. Th e “Eucob@n – Europeanization of CB”
system aims at the cross-border coordination of CB policies within and
between sectors, i.e. the metal, chemical and textile sector. It constitutes a
basic institutional framework that accommodates the inter-sectoral dimension
of transnational CB. Despite eff orts to increase the timeliness of information,
the potential of the Eucob@n system lies not so much in the
exchange of ex-post CB information but more in spotting the collective bargaining
trends and tendencies and helping to identify important bargaining
issues and best practices. Topics that are perceived as being of particular crossborder
relevance are the basic development of labour costs, training as well as
health and safety.