The EU and the domestic politics of welfare state reforms : Europa, Europae / edited by Paolo Graziano, Sophie Jacquot and Bruno Palier.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Usages of Europe in National Employment- friendly Welfare State Reforms; -- 1 Social Europe in Action: The Evolution of EU Policies and Resources; -- 2 Boasting the National Model: The EU and Welfare State Reforms in France; -- 3 Learning or Teaching? Germany and Its Complex Historical Relationship with the EU; -- 4 The Activation Turn in the Netherlands: 'Home'- grown or Steered by Europe? -- 5 Usages of 'Europe' in Welfare Policies in Greece, 1981-20106 -- 6 'Eppur si muoveva ...' The Italian Trajectory of Recent Welfare Reforms: From 'Rescued by Europe' to Euro-scepticism; -- 7 A Compass or a Spear? The Partisan Usage of Europe in Portuguese Employment- friendly Reforms; -- 8 EU and Czech Instrumentalism in Employment and Social Inclusion Strategy; -- 9 Sweden: The Reluctant Rule Follower; -- 10 Europeanization and Welfare State Change in the UK: Another Case of' Fog over the Channel'?; -- 11 Social Security Reform in Turkey: Different Usages of Europe in Shaping the National Welfare Reform.

Does European integration influence national social policies? What is the use of EU laws, orientations and guidelines? Based on a systematic comparison of ten national cases, including both old and new member states, representing all families of welfare regimes, this volume explores and specifies the mechanisms through which the EU plays a role in domestic social policy changes. It focuses on where, when and how national actors use the tools and resources offered by the process of European integration to support them in the national welfare reforms they are engaged inches The comprehensive research design and the systematic comparisons provide a unique opportunity to fully grasp the mechanisms of domestic welfare state change within the context of the European Union multilevel political system. This book proposes both a new step within the Europeanization and the welfare state literatures. It confirms the idea that Europe matters in a differential way since EU social policy will be selectively used by domestic political actors in accordance with their political preferences. It provides a clear explanation of why no EU-induced social policy change can occur without an overall support offered by key domestic decision-makers.