This book traces the evolution of European Union employment law and social policy from its essentially economic origins in the Treaty of Rome through to the emerging themes post-Amsterdam: co-ordination of national employment policies,modernisation of social laws and combating discrimination. Each stage of development of Community employment law and social policy is analysed in depth to give a sense of perspective to this fast changing field. As the European Union seeks to meet the challenges of globalisation the need to develop social policy as a productive factor has come to the fore. The author explains how the social, economic and employment imperatives of European integration have always been intertwined and how the emergence of Community employment law from its hitherto twilight existence is best understood through an examination of consistent strands of policy development.

Jeff Kenner is Senior Lecturer in European Law at the University of Nottingham.