The Changing Legal Context of Employment Policy Coordination : How do Social Policy Issues Fare after the Crisis?

On 30th May 2013, the so-called Two Pack entered into force in all Eurozone Member States. Its Regulations seek to reinforce the rules for economic policy coordination and add to the combined analysis and assessment of budgetary, economic, employment and social policies within the context of the European Semester. Starting with the 2014 budgetary cycle, this may further the interconnection between these traditionally separate policy cycles and thus intensify the practice that similar policy items are subject to several, sometimes competing, coordination mechanisms. Hence, the tension between EU competence and Member State and social partner autonomy is likely to grow. To gain more insight into this matter, this article aims to explore which legal instruments are used to coordinate employment and social policy items after the crisis. To what extent do they feature in budgetary and economic governance cycles and how does this affect the Union's employment and social policy goals? The paper concludes there is a mixed picture, with certain recommendation supporting social policies, while others addressing social issues from an economic perspective