Changes and Continuities of the European Union Social Policy : Open Method of Coordination

This book analyzes the European social policy, which is one of the most controversial issue within the EU context. On the one hand, the critics of common social policy focus on the market efficiency attaining the purpose of single market. The supporters of EU social policy, on the other, focus on maintain market efficiency by considering equality, low unemployment rates and providing social protection for individuals. This research argues that, from a qualitative perspective, intergovernmental solution seeking methods in European social policy gained more acceptances by the member states over time. Open Method of Coordination, which has intergovernmentalist and deliberative structure, gives an opportunity to balance the market and welfare goals in the European Union and overall has a positive impact on the European social policy.