The European Employment Strategy (EES) is a co-ordinated European approach to employment policy. Moreover it is the framework and the initiator for the annual National Action Plans (NAPs) issued by the Member States of the European Union (EU). The origins of the EES lie in the former EU Commission´s President Delors´”White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment” from 1993 and mark a turning point in the field of employment policy, that had before always been a national task, supported solely by elements of intergovernmental cooperation, mainly promoted by the European Commission. Yet in the light of preparing a European Monetary Union, the Member States had to realize that traditional employment creation policies as the adjustment of national interest rates had become obsolete and the common market needed a coordination at Community level. [...]
Table of Contents
1. European Employment Strategy: Framework and initiator for the National Action Plans
2. Germany´s National Action Plan 2002 in the light of the EES
2.1. Influence of the EES on the German employment policy
2.2. Impact of the EES on employment in Germany and future anticipations
3. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the influence and effectiveness of the European Employment Strategy (EES) on German national employment policy, specifically focusing on the National Action Plan (NAP) of 2002 to determine whether European guidelines have led to substantive policy changes or merely symbolic adjustments.
- The origin and framework of the European Employment Strategy (EES).
- The implementation and impact of the German National Action Plan 2002.
- The role of the Job AQTIV Act within German employment policy.
- Critical assessment of the Open Method of Co-operation (OMC).
- Evaluation of employment growth and labour market effectiveness in Germany.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Influence of the EES on the German employment policy
For the first bloc the report´s overall conclusion is that “the European Employment Strategy has so far had a noticeable influence on national policy”14. In the view of the RWI e.V. and ISG clearly guided by the prevention and activation strategy of the Luxemburg process was the Job AQTIV Act (that stands for Activate, Qualify, Train, Invest, Place)- which in fact creates the heart of Germany´s employment policy since 199815. The aims of the Job AQTIV Act are for instance the intensification of job placement and counselling by local employment offices, the launching of a youth programme which implies activities for young people who have not yet found a training vacancy or a job as well as subsidies for employers who hire unemployed young people without training or organisations that offer inclusion of young people into employment. The JOB-AQTIV Act also adapted the Danish ”job rotation” model (employers hire unemployed people as temporary replacement, get repaid 50-100% of the salary) to the German labour market16 - one proof for the fruitful exchange of best practices as estimated by Scharpf (see p. 3).
All in all the spending on active and preventive labour market policy in Germany has significantly increased for about 22 billion Euros since 1998, which the RWI e.V and the ISG see as another proof for the positive impact of the EES on Germany´s employment policy17.
Summary of Chapters
1. European Employment Strategy: Framework and initiator for the National Action Plans: This chapter outlines the historical development, objectives, and legal foundations of the EES, highlighting its role as a framework for member state coordination.
2. Germany´s National Action Plan 2002 in the light of the EES: This section assesses Germany’s implementation of European guidelines, evaluating specific legislative acts and the overall impact on the German labour market.
2.1. Influence of the EES on the German employment policy: This sub-chapter details how specific German laws, such as the Job AQTIV Act, align with the prevention and activation strategies promoted by the EU.
2.2. Impact of the EES on employment in Germany and future anticipations: This sub-chapter examines the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of employment measures, noting limited success and persistent challenges in the German labour market.
3. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the supplementary role of the EES in the German policy system and warns against overestimating its ability to solve structural unemployment issues in isolation.
Keywords
European Employment Strategy, EES, National Action Plan, Germany, Job AQTIV Act, labour market policy, Open Method of Co-operation, unemployment, employment guidelines, social policy, economic growth, structural reform, benchmarking, EU Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper evaluates the extent to which the European Employment Strategy has influenced German employment policy and the resulting effectiveness of the 2002 National Action Plan in reducing unemployment.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the EU's Open Method of Co-operation, the translation of European employment guidelines into national law, and an assessment of active labour market measures in Germany.
What is the main objective of the author?
The goal is to determine if the EES serves as a genuine driver of national policy change or if it is primarily an exercise in symbolic politics with limited real-world impact on job creation.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author performs a qualitative analysis based on government reports, assessments by economic institutes (RWI and ISG), and reviews of existing academic literature on EU governance.
What specific topics are discussed in the main part of the work?
The main part analyzes the institutional origin of the EES, the specific implementation of German labour market laws like the Job AQTIV Act, and the broader macroeconomic context affecting employment.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The paper is defined by terms such as European Employment Strategy, National Action Plan, Job AQTIV Act, and Open Method of Co-operation.
How does the author evaluate the "Job AQTIV Act"?
The author identifies the Job AQTIV Act as a central component of German employment policy that clearly reflects the EU's prevention and activation strategy, serving as a concrete example of best practice exchange.
Why does the author consider the assessment of the EES complicated?
The evaluation is complex because it is difficult to isolate the effects of EU-driven guidelines from national political agendas and the influence of the broader macroeconomic environment on the labour market.
- Quote paper
- Joanna Mastalerek (Author), 2004, Assessing Germany´s National Action Plan on Employment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/22203
