Abstract

In this paper the extent to which the EU is actively disseminating a social model is considered through the lens of EU enlargement and accession. The paper examines the social effects of the transposition and implementation of the acquis communautaire, taking account of the weight given to social considerations in the accession procedure; the impact of the (hard and soft) elements of the social acquis on labour markets and welfare state regulations and policies in the EU-10; as well as the social implications of some of the economic elements of the acquis. It is concluded that the social acquis has had a limited weight in the accession process; that its impact in the NMS has been further limited by the fact that social dialogue has been comparatively weak and the informal sector comparatively large; and that it has been subject to a series of implementation problems.