Barroso's 'Six-Pack' Revolution. Setting Maximum National Wage Increase Benchmarks for the EU's Member States

Until recently, European elites firmly rejected the need for any coordination in the field of wage bargaining, because the market would automatically lead to the desired (downward) convergence of wages across Europe. In 2011, however, Commission President Barroso announced 'a silent revolution' (EUobserver, 16.03.2011) that led to the adoption of the 'six-pack' on European economic governance by the European Parliament and the Council. As a result, the Commission not only obtained effective tools in order to control member states' budgets and economic policies, but also the right to issue enforceable maximum national labour cost increase benchmarks.