What to read after European Social Law?

European Social Law Noreen Burrows and Jane Mair School of Law, University of Glasgow, UK The creation of an EU-wide social policy is firmly on the agenda of the EU institutions in Brussels but turning that goal into a reality has met with many opponents. Some question the impact of a social policy on the competitiveness of Europe with the rest of the world, while others question whether the policy fits with related European policies such as the protection of small and medium-sized enterprises. European Social Law analyses these problems and discusses the methods adopted by Brussels to achieve its aims. The authors concentrate on several distinct areas to map the development of European social law, such as:
* sex discrimination
* workers' rights in the event of a transfer of undertakings
* social policy to date as it operates in the working environment
Within each chapter, the background, substance and interpretation of a particular directive are examined. Implementation of the directive within the UK is then analysed as an example of the problems faced in trying to impose a European policy on an established legal order. This analysis in many cases illustrates the problems that can be caused 151; through poor legislation, inadequate drafting and incomplete implementation - to those governed by the terms of the directive and those that have to enforce it. Also featured, after each chapter, is a list of key questions on the content of the chapter, designed to act as a revision exercise for students studying this broad-ranging subject. With its breadth of coverage and detailed analysis of implementation, European Social Law is essential reading for all students and academics of European law and practitioners specialising in this area.