Introduction: The Usages of Europe in National Employment-Friendly Welfare State Reforms

Abstract : What is the use of EU policy? Does European integration influence national social policies? This book focuses on the relationship between European integration and its effects on national institutional and political settings. The most recent literature has shown that the EU is an important variable by which to understand recent welfare state changes, but it remains relatively unclear precisely how Europe matters. Our project is aimed explicitly at exploring and specifying what the political mechanisms are through which the EU plays a role in domestic social policy changes.