Mr Saxen is the first Finn to have been elected to the position of NFS General Secretary.

The Nordic trade union movement has been actively involved in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for many years. Nordic trade unions have provided training, consultancy and financial aid to the trade union movement in the Baltic countries in order to help it gain sufficient status in preparation for EU membership. According to the NFS General Secretary, the time has now arrived when we should thoroughly evaluate the results of the substantial efforts which have been focused on this area.

- 'We have neither an overall profile of the results of these projects nor of the mistakes we may have made. The truth is, however, that contrary to our expectation of growth, the trade union movement has weakened in all three Baltic countries. Of course, the historic ballast in this area is substantial and the reasons for this weakening of the trade union movement do not solely lie within the projects run by the Nordic trade unions. Nevertheless, the results present food for thought', says Mr Saxen.

He is of the opinion that there is still a lot of work to be done by the Nordic trade union movement before it can be ascertained that the issue of an effective social partnership is to be included in the EU membership negotiations, alongside the economic considerations.

- 'Freedom of unionisation, social partnership and an organised way for dealing with labour market issues are inherent in a democratic society. Building an effective labour market structure is a long process. However, the fundamental rights of workers cannot be compromised when new member states are accepted into the European Union', Mr Saxen says.

According to Mr Saxen, the Nordic labour market model, with its characteristically high unionisation rate, cannot be exported as such, and with no modification, to the Baltic countries any more than it can be exported to the old EU countries.

- 'The tripartite principle and free unionisation and negotiation rights, as stipulated by the International Labour Organisation ILO, are generally honoured in the various European countries, although the unionisation rate may not be as high as it is in the Nordic countries. However, the tripartite principle is not operating in the applicant countries, and this must be rectified', says Mr Saxen.

NFS provides an important forum

Tom Saxen states that the Council of Nordic Trade Unions has once again become an important debating forum, following a lull in Nordic cooperation after Finland and Sweden joined the EU.

- 'It was very soon realised though, that the NFS and the ETUC did not cancel one another out as being forums for debate. At present, whilst numerous European issues are frequently discussed in the NFS and a common approach is being sought, there are differing views on some matters. Of late, the EU charter of fundamental rights, which must necessarily embrace trade union rights, have been a constant subject of debate within the NFS', says Tom Saxen. In his opinion there is a great need for the sharing of both experience and information at the Nordic level.

The trade union movement has not become known, at least not to the outside world, as being an active critic of the EU. However, according to Mr Saxen, critical and analytical debate on EU issues is conducted within the trade union movement and within the Nordic forum.

- 'Of course, the trade union movement is always watching the political decision-makers and ensuring that the voice of the workers is heard in Europe', Mr Saxen claims.

Throughout the Nordic countries, the trade union movement has actively defended the welfare society model, although this model has from time to time been under threat due to economic pressures, particularly in Finland during and after the years of severe recession.

- 'I firmly believe that the welfare society model will survive. It may be altered to some extent, but we should not in any case try to regard it as being absolute in its present form. We in the Nordic countries have all had positive experiences of the welfare society, and the other European countries are interested in our model', adds Mr Saxen.

For the time being, Finland is the only Nordic country which has joined the European Monetary Union, EMU, whilst Norway and Iceland have not even become members of the EU. Nevertheless, Tom Saxen does not consider that the European Union has become a divisive factor within the Nordic trade union movement.

- 'The EU is an important topic for debate. The European economic and employment policies are constantly under discussion within the NFS. I have also found, within the Nordic partnership, that contrary to commonly held expectations, the Norwegians and the Icelanders have been particularly active in their participation in the debates on Europe.'

- 'Neither Sweden nor Denmark will be able to put into practice any economic policies which will differ to any great extent from those of the EMU countries. I believe that the other Nordic countries will follow Finland into the Economic and Monetary Union at some later date', Tom Saxen concludes.