The Open Method of Coordination. The Lisbon Strategy in the United Kingdom

As part of the Lisbon Strategy of 2000 the Union set forth a new strategy for achieving the ambitious goals of becoming “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion” until the year 2010. Through incorporation of iterative benchmarking processes to assess progress in achieving the objectives set forth by the EU on the national level, mutual learning among member states and mobilization of actors across many levels – EU, national and sub-national levels – the OMC represented a novel approach to governance in the EU. Because the environment in which the OMC is applied, the multiple actors it involves across multiple levels, as well as the challenge of correctly placing it among other soft-law measures and the existing tool set of the EU institutions the literature in OMC research is equally complex. Contributions to OMC research emanate from many researchers across different fields of science, such as economists, legal scholars, sociologists and political scientists that have brought forth analyses looking at the topic from various angles. These include the OMC as a New Mode of Governance, a form of Policy Learning and Europeanisation and as a motor of European Integration.
Taking this complexity into account and given the limited ability of this specific type of essay it seems necessary to concentrate on a few specific aspects. This work will thus limit its time frame – from the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy in 2000 until the overhaul it received with the introduction of ‘Europe 2020’ in 2010 at most – and discuss the case of the United Kingdom (UK) with regard to the possible impact the OMC has had on social policy and the way in which different levels of government and non-government actors have been involved. How has the Open Method of Co-Ordination influenced social policy in the United Kingdom and has it been able to involve a wider array of actors in the process?

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Lisbon Strategy and the Open Method of Co-Ordination
  • Understanding OMC
  • Policy, Politics and Polity - An Analytical Framework
  • The OMC in the United Kingdom
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay aims to analyze the influence of the Open Method of Co-Ordination (OMC) on social policy in the United Kingdom, particularly within the context of the Lisbon Strategy. It explores how the OMC has facilitated the involvement of a wider range of actors in the policy process, examining its impact on the UK's liberal society and institutional framework.

• The Lisbon Strategy's goals for the European Union
• The development and implementation of the Open Method of Co-Ordination
• The OMC's impact on social policy in the United Kingdom
• The role of various actors (governmental and non-governmental) in OMC processes
• The effectiveness and challenges of the OMC as a governance tool

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the European Union's expansion and the subsequent changes in governance, highlighting the introduction of the Open Method of Co-Ordination (OMC) as a significant development in EU policymaking. It introduces the Lisbon Strategy's goals and the OMC's role in achieving them.
• The Lisbon Strategy and the Open Method of Co-Ordination: This chapter focuses on the core principles and functioning of the OMC, outlining the goals set forth in the Lisbon Strategy. It discusses the four key processes involved in OMC: setting guidelines, establishing benchmarks, translating guidelines into national policies, and periodic monitoring and evaluation. It also emphasizes the partnership and involvement of various actors across different levels of governance.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of this text include the Open Method of Co-Ordination (OMC), the Lisbon Strategy, social policy, European Union governance, multi-level governance, social inclusion, employment, social protection, policy learning, and the case of the United Kingdom.

Details

• College: University of Bamberg
• Grade: 2,0
• Author: Christian Horch (Author)
• Publication Year: 2014
• Pages: 20
• Catalog Number: V385651
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668609273
• ISBN (Book): 9783668609280
• Language: English
• Tags: OMC European Union EU International Relations Cooperation Institutionalism Benchmarking