The challenges of Language: re-shaping legislative discourse(s) and text(s)

Abstract

Since the 1990s the discourse on the relationship between the EU and member states in the field of labour law has changed significantly and it has been increasingly supplemented by framework agreements between the EU and the actors involved in the labour law dialogue. From this point of view, the Green Paper on Modernising labour law invites member states, the social partners and other interested parties to participate in a consultation process and an open debate, in order to look at how labour law can help promote flexibility in conjunction with security, regardless of the type of employment contract. The aim of this paper is to explore how the labour law interactants re-shape their discourse(s) in the field of labour law in order to provide communicative response to the global socio-economic, change. In particular, the legislative documents will be presented as a combination of different discourses that are strategically exploited to mould the norms/conventions typical of public documents such as Green Papers and consultation documents to promote a positive image of the EU Institutions even in changing/challenging economic circumstances of communities and territories