"The introductory chapter presents analytical strands of the theoretical framework for transformation processes, and links them to the most important challenges facing societies and trade unions in the CEE accession countries on their way to EU membership. It identifies five interrelated processes which have been shaping the post-socialist development of the CEE accession countries, and which are pushing these countries along their course to join the EU. Firstly, the path taken by democratisation and the subsequent stabilisation of new democracies; secondly, the success of economic restructuring and the integration of national economies into the global and the EU economy; thirdly, the restructuring of the social sector to compensate for market failures; fourthly, the role of trade unions and industrial relations in imposing constraints on market forces and defending the interests of working people; and finally the EU approximation process, i.e. the very process of convergence to the EU acquis, which is helping to determine the speed, quality and targeting of transformation processes in conformity with the requirements of future EU membership."

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