This collection of essays addresses a topical subject of current importance, namely the impact of the EU on national welfare state systems. The volume aims to question the perception that matters of social welfare remain for Member States of the EU to decide, and that the EU’s influence in this field is minor or incidental. The various essays trace the different ways in which the EU is having an impact on the laws and practices of the Member States in the area of welfare, looking at issues of social citizenship and the influence of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, as well as at the impact of EU economic freedoms – competition law and free movement law in particular – on both ‘services of general economic interest’ and on national health-care systems. The significance of the so-called Open Method of Coordination in developing a new compromise on ‘social Europe’ is discussed, as well as the tensions between market liberalization and social protection in the specific context of this transnational political system are examined.
While the various authors clearly have different views on the likelihood of a robust form of European social solidarity developing, the book as a whole suggests the emergence of a distinctive, although partial and fragmented, European Union welfare dimension.

Author Biography

Gráinne de Búrca has been professor of European Union Law at the European University Institute since 1998. Prior to that she was a lecturer in law at Oxford University and fellow of Somerville College from 1990-1998. She has been a visiting professor at the Universities of Toronto, Michigan, Columbia and NYU. Her field of expertise is broadly in EU law, with particular focus on constitutional issues of European integration, EU human rights policy and
European and transnational governance. She is co-director of the EUI’s Academy of European Law and series co-editor of two OUP book series: Oxford Studies in European Law, and the Collected Courses of the Academy of
European Law. She is co-author with Paul Craig of the textbook EU Law, currently in its third edition.

We are committed to protecting your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act and working with our suppliers to assist with warranty claims. Products sold by Mighty Ape will be covered by a Manufacturer's Warranty for at least a one-year period from the date of purchase.

Your warranty will cover any manufacturing defects which, if existing, will present themselves within this warranty period.

Your warranty will not cover normal wear and tear, faults caused by misuse, and accidents which cause damage or theft caused after delivery. Using the product in a way it is not designed for will void your warranty.

Please refer to our Help Centre for more information.