Suchergebnisse

The first and major thesis of the paper indicate the need to integrate social policy and economic policy and careful analysis of the variety of links between the two. Author indicates also the need to integrate policy decisions made on the 'strategic' level of policy with policy outcomes that appear within particular, sectoral settings affected by such 'strategic' decisions. Author argues also that family incomes structure should to be shaped not only by economic but also by social considerations taking into account an idea of social justice. Within this framework social policy decisions made by companies are of particular importance

Social policy is undergoing review, the aim being to consolidate the fragmented nature of social policy law, and to provide for the integration of all Community policies. This is part of a larger where the EU is attempting to provide a holistic approach towards all policies, ensuring that they meet the demands placed upon governments, as well as private undertakings, in the enlarged single market. Of particular significance is the interaction between social policy law and competition law, especially in relation to state aid and merger policy. The Lisbon Process, now at mid-term, has not been successful in delivering the projected results. Thus throughout 2005 the European Union focused upon revitalizing the Lisbon agenda with the focus upon improving the quality of work as well as combating unemployment.1

Since the 1997 Amsterdam Intergovernmental Conference a sea-change in the formulation and implementation of European Union Social Law and Policy has taken place in response to the demands made by economic, political and monetary union. The evolution of EU social law is an area which has developed within a process or framework of "differentiated integration",1 not only between the Member States, but also the regions of the EU. Since its emergence in the EU Council's Conclusions of 22 June 19842 the concept of a "European Social Area" has slowly been created by the processes of "Europeanisation"3 of social policy whereby through EU-led processes a "re-nationalisation"4 of domestic policies has taken place. The process is similar to the ideas of "re-regulation" of national law in relation to the basic economic freedoms of the EC Treaty whereby a measure of national autonomy can only be retained through European Community law standards. It is striking how the Amsterdam IGC has led to a definite shift in the paradigm of EU social policy law with distinctive aims, values, processes, new legal tools and new political actors.