The common European flexicurity principles: How a fragile consensus was reached

TY - JOUR

T1 - The common European flexicurity principles

T2 - How a fragile consensus was reached

AU - Mailand, Mikkel

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - This article analyses the decision-making process underlying the adoption of common EU flexicurity principles. Supporters of the initiative succeeded in convincing the sceptics one by one; the change of government in France and the last-minute support of the European social partner organizations were instrumental in this regard. However, the critics succeeded in weakening the initially strong focus on the transition from job security to employment security and the divisions between insiders and outsiders in the labour market. In contrast to some decision-making on the European Employment Strategy, coalitions seem to have played only a minor role in the flexicurity process, although some actors joined forces in their attempts to influence the outcome.

AB - This article analyses the decision-making process underlying the adoption of common EU flexicurity principles. Supporters of the initiative succeeded in convincing the sceptics one by one; the change of government in France and the last-minute support of the European social partner organizations were instrumental in this regard. However, the critics succeeded in weakening the initially strong focus on the transition from job security to employment security and the divisions between insiders and outsiders in the labour market. In contrast to some decision-making on the European Employment Strategy, coalitions seem to have played only a minor role in the flexicurity process, although some actors joined forces in their attempts to influence the outcome.

U2 - 10.1177/0959680110375134

DO - 10.1177/0959680110375134

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0959-6801

VL - 16

SP - 241

EP - 257

JO - European Journal of Industrial Relations

JF - European Journal of Industrial Relations

IS - 3

ER -