The Sustainability of the European Social Model, EU Governance, Social Protection and Employment Policies in Europe

Highly valued by its citizens, the European social model is a defining feature of Europe and the European Union yet is under threat from the effects of both globalisation and the aftermath of the financial crisis. The Sustainability of the European Social Model addresses this issue in light of the current crisis that changed the landscape. It examines how social Europe responds to uncertainties that affect its development from a range of different disciplinary perspectives.

The book begins by analysing interactions between EU law and national policies from a comparative perspective, highlighting the legal, social and institutional complexities that constrain the development of ‘social Europe’ It assesses the sustainablibity of EU law and policies in the areas of pensions and employment policy and then focuses on two crucial areas of EU social policy: the regulations on working time and the provisions of social services of general interest. The expert contributors compare the experiences of a range of Member States (and also bring in external comparison) to explore topics such as ageing, job quality, social protection and employment policies, social dialogue and the relationship between the various methods of European policymaking such as the 'community method' and the Open Method of Co-ordination. The analyses show that sustainability of the European social model will depend heavily on addressing failings in European governance.

Insightful and comprehensive, this book is a detailed and timely resource for academic researchers. Its practical, policy-oriented insights into important issues in social and employment policy, as well as into European policymaking itself, will also be of great interest to practitioners and policymakers.

PART 1 EU LAW AND GOVERNANCE OF SOCIAL AND EMPLOYMENT POLICIES
1. The Janus Face of EU Law - A Sociological Perspective on European Law Making and its Influence on Social Policy in the EU
Jean-Claude Barbier and Fabrice Colomb

2. EU Governance of Sustainable Development: Social and Environmental Policies
Iain Begg

3. European Social Dialogue as Multi-level Governance: Towards more Autonomy and New Dependencies
Paul Marginson and Maarten Keune

4. EU Governance on Ageing: Older, Wider and more Influential than the OMCs
Miriam Hartlapp

5. In Search of a European Employment Strategy: The Construction of the ‘Job Quality’ Agenda as an Illustrative Case
Christine Erhel, Jérôme Gautié and Bernard Gazier

PART II THE REGULATION OF WORKING TIME IN EUROPE
6. Sustainability and Uncertainty in Governing European Employment Law - The Community Method as Instrument of Governance: The Case of the EU Working Time Directive
Ralf Rogowski

7. The EU Working Time Directive in the Czech Republic
Tomáš Sirovátka

8. The Unexpected Consequences of the Application of the EU Working Time Directive in France
Fabrice Colomb

9. Governance of EU Labour Law: Implementation of the EU’s Working Time Directive in the Netherlands
Els Sol and Nuria Ramos Martín

10. Implementation of the EU Working Time Directive in the United Kingdom
Ralf Rogowski

PART III SOCIAL SERVICES OF GENERAL (ECONOMIC) INTEREST IN EUROPE
11. Legal Uncertainty in Social Services: A Threat to National Social Protection Systems?
Jean-Claude Barbier

12. Services of General Interest, State Aid and Social Housing in the Netherlands
Els Sol and Mara van der Vos

13. The Impact of EU Regulation on Social Services of General Interest in the United Kingdom
Aristea Koukiadaki

14. Social Services of General Interest in the Czech Republic: Towards Poorly Regulated Markets
Tomáš Sirovátka

15. Social Services of General Interest in France: The Uncertain Impact of the Increasing Reach of EU Law
Jean-Claude Barbier

Index