Content

This course pays attention to both the integration process within the EU (first unit) and the transformation process, which is taking place in Central and Eastern Europe (second unit). Both are linked in the study of the conditions, challenges and opportunities presented by the accession of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) states to the European Union. As such attention goes also to the Southern European states acceeding to the EU.
The unit dealing with the future of social security in the European Union will be focused upon the question : is it possible to maintain the wide variety of social security systems, which presently exist within the European Union, whilst simultaneously continuing a process of further economic, financial and political integration ? This question will be looked at from various perspectives, amongst which :

• the legal framework for convergence and harmonisation of social security within the European Union;
  
  
• the pro's and con's of harmonising the national social security systems of the Member States of the European Union;
  
  
• the various scenario's of convergence and harmonisation;
  
  
• the 'social paradox' and the hidden social policy of the European Union (interaction between social security and EC economic freedoms and fair competition);
  
  
• the concept of 'social federalism'.
  The unit dealing with social security in pre-accesion countries will address the following topics:
  
  
  
• the social security regime in communist countries (ideology and social policy unreality; the specific designs and features of social security under communism; the administration, financing and the standards of provisions (comparison with EU countries); the regulations of the labour markt and of collective bargaining);
  
  
• the change of the welfare paradigm in the West and in CEE (post-modern welfare in the West; political changes and marketisation of economies in CEE: new ideologies and the new welfare paradigm; new social risks; specific features of unemployment, poverty and inequality; the consequences for social security in CEE countries);
  
  
• emerging new systems of social security in CEE countries (the public sector in transitional economies; the goals of social security reform and the shift of the role of particular components of the system; the administration and structure of the new system; differences in CEE, the political aspects of the changes);
  
  
• reforms of social security in CEE (the social safety net - subsistence minimum function, poverty and social exclusion; regulations of the labour markets, unemployment insurance; family related benefits: new benefits, change in ideology, universal and income-related benefits; pension system reform in CEE countries, comparison with EU; health insurance and health care reform in CEE);
  
  
• achievement of goals and other effects of social security reform (the costs of the system, an economic evaluation; legitimacy, public support, political consequences; the alleviation of poverty, impact on social inequalities; other effects - social protection, incentives, labour costs);
  
  
• perspectives of EU and consequences for CEE systems (living standards, social standards and social dumping; expected changes; the areas of greatest difficulty in the long-run).
  
  
• specific issues related to the possible accession of Cyprus, Malta and Turkey.

Aims

The goal of this course is to explain, to analyse and to discuss the process of European integration within the European Union, as well as of the social security transformation in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) on the background of the prevailing specific economic, social and political conditions. The students should recognise the opportunities, challenges, obstacles, limitations and possibilities linked to this double evolution. They should also develop their own capacity to evaluate the potential of the current EU Member States as well as of the new market democracies to successfully participate in this double evolution.