The different kinds of support delivered by the ETUI are based on three components:

• firstly, multidisciplinary work, often carried out in teams composed of people with different professional backgrounds and experience;

• secondly, networks of national experts and trade union representatives assisting the ETUI and its staff; and,

• thirdly, activities organised by ETUI staff such as conferences, workshops, training courses and educational seminars.

In 2008-2009, the main activities of the ETUI, following its statutes, include:

a) monitoring major European developments of importance to workers and the European trade union movement;

b) collecting, storing and providing data and information on policy areas of relevance to the European trade union movement;

c) conducting multidisciplinary and intellectually independent research on topics of importance to the European trade union movement and publishing the results of this research in books, reviews, reports and recommendations;

d) disseminating the results of this work at conferences and seminars;

e) establishing European networks of researchers, research bodies and universities in the field of industrial relations;

f) coordinating European networks of occupational health and safety experts in the field of technical standards and chemicals;

g) representing and supporting the European trade union movement in the field of occupational health and safety with regard to technical regulation and standards;

h) improving cooperation between the European trade union movement and academic institutions, research institutes and preventive and enforcement agencies;

i) providing training programmes reflecting the needs of the ETUC and its affiliated organisations;

j) coordinating the European trade union education community which provides a forum for the strategic development of trade union education in Europe;

k) adding a European dimension to national trade union education initiatives through the provision of basic and ongoing European training programmes for trainers and the production of training resources;

l) Providing expertise and advisory services for the design and delivery of European trade union education projects.

The areas covered in the research department are as follows:

1) Social dialogue (Contact person: Stefan Clauwaert)

2) Trade unions and the Europeanization of industrial relations (Contact person: Norbert Kluge)

3) European economic, employment and social policies (Contact person: Andrew Watt)

Full details on current activities are outlined in the ETUI annual work programme. You can download the current work programme of the ETUI from http://www.etui-rehs.org/en/Our-activities .

ETUI publishes a wealth of books, reports, studies and policy briefs that examine and underpin the European social model. It also publishes Transfer: The European Review of Labour and Research, the South East European Review for Labour and Social Affairs (in tandem with the Hans-Böckler-Foundation) and many discussion papers. It produces the annual Benchmarking Working Europe report and Social Developments in Europe. It also publishes several newsletters.

Many publications are free to download, while others can be bought and ordered on-line. They are published in various languages and formats. On the website http://www.etui.org/en/ .Publications you can see a few examples of the most recent publications.

The ETUI's recently refurbished documentation centre is a major source of information on the European and international trade union movement, social and economic issues, industrial relations and worker health and safety. More than 19,000 publications and over two hundred specialist periodicals are available for consultation. The Labourline database is the electronic catalogue of the ETUI documentation centre. It provides access to more than 42,000 references of relevance to the world of labour. The database is enriched by an ever growing number of downloadable documents. (www.labourline.org)

A new resource that provides users with information on national systems of industrial relations and on worker participation issues at the European level such as European Works Councils, European Companies, corporate governance and EU social dialogue. A common framework is provided for compiling information, expertise, training activities and networks. (www.worker-participation.eu)

A database that contains information on multinationals that have concluded (or are in the process of negotiating) an EWC agreement. The database is the most up-to-date source containing EWC agreements in both the original language and English. The database can be searched using several different criteria. Where available, substantive agreements concluded by EWCs and management are also available. (www.ewcdb.eu)

Academic networks are essential elements that support the ETUI research and training activities. They assist in compiling information and developing lines of argument in areas that are relevant for European trade unions. Researchers from both within the ETUI and outside regularly participate in conferences, forums and workshops. They maintain regular contact with the European institutions and provide in-depth expertise to the ETUC. The ETUI, together with the Hans-Böckler-Foundation, is the initiator and coordinator of the TURI network.