Coalitions and policy coordination
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Mikkel Mailand Coalitions and policy coordination Revision and impact of the European Employment Strategy DJØF Publishing Copenhagen 2006
Coalitions and policy coordination Revision and impact of the European Employment Strategy First edition 2006 2006 by Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag DJØF Publishing Copenhagen DJØF Publishing is a company of the Association of Danish Lawyers and Economists All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Cover Design: Morten Højmark Print: Holbæk Amts Bogtrykkeri Binding: Damm s Forlagsbogbinderi, Randers Printed in Denmark 2006 ISBN 87-574-1639-7 DJØF Publishing 17 Lyngbyvej P.O.B. 2702 DK-2100 Copenhagen Telephone: 39 13 55 00 Telefax: 39 13 55 55 E-mail: forlag@djoef.dk Internet: www.djoef-forlag.dk
Table of contents Table of contents...5 Preface...9 Chapter 1. Introduction...11 1.1 Aims of the report and the reasons for studying EES...11 1.2 The research questions...14 1.3 Structure of the book...15 Chapter 2. Theoretical framework and hypotheses...16 2.1 Theories on Europeanisation...16 2.2 The role of joint actions coalitions...22 2.3 Regime theory...25 2.4 Hypotheses...26 Chapter 3. Methods...29 3.1 Selection of member states for comparison...29 3.2 Methods and delimitations...30 Chapter 4. Introducing policy formulation: the institutional set-up of the EES...33 Chapter 5. EES Revision 2002-03...36 5.1 Agenda setting: evaluation and initial discussions...36 5.2 Policy formulation I: the first communications...39 5.3 Policy formulation II and outcome: draft and final guidelines...41 5.4 Assessment: the roles and powers of actors and coalitions...42 Chapter 6. The European Employment Taskforce 2003...50 6.1 Agenda setting...50 6.2 Policy formulation...51 6.3 Outcome: the final draft and how it was received...54 6.4 Assessment: the roles and powers of actors and coalitions...56 Chapter 7. The High Level Group and the Lisbon revision 2004 05...57 7.1 Agenda setting: The High Level Group...57 7.2 Policy formulation I: OMCs and the Barroso plan...64 7.3 Policy formulation II and outcome: draft and final guidelines...69 7.4 Assessment: the roles and powers of actors and coalitions...74 5
Table of contents Chapter 8. Discussion...79 8.1 The roles of EU institutions, members and other actors...79 8.2 Theoretical implications and perspectives for research...82 Chapter 9. Introducing implementation...87 Chapter 10. Denmark...88 10.1 A short description of contemporary employment policies...88 10.2 Processes around employment policy and EES documents...94 10.3 Impact on policy content and processes...103 Chapter 11. The United Kingdom...114 11.1 A short description of contemporary employment policy...114 11.2 Processes around employment policies and EES-documents...120 11.3 Impact on policy content and processes...128 Chapter 12. Spain...135 12.1 A short description of contemporary employment policy...135 12.2 Processes around employment policies and EES-documents...141 12.3 Impact on policy content and processes...146 12.4 The level of impact and its explanations...152 Chapter 13. Poland...155 13.1 A short description of contemporary employment policies...155 13.2 Processes around employment policies and EES documents...160 13.3 Impact on policy content and processes...166 Chapter 14. Comparative discussion...174 14.1 Extent of impact and decisive factors at national level...174 14.2 Implications for research...177 14.3 The limitations of the research findings...180 Chapter 15. Summary of findings and conclusions...182 15.1 Summary of findings and answers to research questions...182 15.2 The balances of the EES...184 Chapter 16. The future of the EES and the Lisbon Strategy...187 16.1 The EES and the Lisbon Strategy since the revision 2005...187 16.2 Revitalisation or further de-route?...189 6