Reform of the European Employment Strategy after Five Years: A Change of Course or Merely of Presentation?

This article starts with a brief review of the European Employment Strategy (EES) and a general evaluation of its scope and limitations, then provides an assessment of the five-year review conducted by the European Commission. It examines the new form that has been given to the EES for the 2003 exercise, on the basis of the conclusions drawn from the five-year review. It argues that this change involves more than mere presentation, but fails to address the inherent limitations of the EES as currently constituted. Lastly, the article compares the employment guidelines with the original proposals made by the Commission, and draws conclusions regarding the balance of interests and forces in the policy-making process.