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Europeanisation of social policies: national adaptations in south east Europe
- Author:
- GEROVSKA MITEV Maja
- Journal article citation:
- Revija Za Socijalnu Politiku Journal of Social Policy, 11(3-4), 2004, pp.321-341.
- Publisher:
- University of Zagreb
Looks at the process of Europeanisation and attempts to explore it in correlation with social policy reforms in south east Europe (SEE), focusing on those with different EU status such as Slovenia (EU), Bulgaria and Romania (candidates), and Croatia and Macedonia (applicants). Briefly explores the theoretical concept, and generally assesses different stages, of Europeanisation. Considers different institutional and legislative transformations as a starting point of capacity to democratise and adapt towards common EU standards. Countries can be divided into a 'performance league' with Slovenia and increasingly Croatia the leaders and Romania and Macedonia the laggards. The level of institutional Europeanisation is also compared. Further analysis focuses on EU instruments employed towards applicants and aspirants, analysing pre-accession strategy, the regional approach, the Stability Pact, the Stabilisation and Association Process and Agreements, the Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation programme, and the social part of the acquis communautaire (the entire body of EU legislation, of which a significant body relates to justice and home affairs; applicants must accept it before they can join). These instruments outline the scarcity of direct social policy interventions in candidates and applicants, reflecting the limited internal social policy agenda, encompassing only domains directly or indirectly concerned with labour market functioning. To explore the influence of these instruments in social policies in SEE countries a closer examination of Slovenian and Macedonian social policies is being carried out. Ends with recommendations for enhancement of the EU's role in designating further social policy trajectory in accession countries. [Article in Croatian.]