"Incomplete integration, disintegration, and national response strategies: The liberalization of service provision in the European Union and national migration policy initiatives"

Menz, Georg. (2001) "Incomplete integration, disintegration, and national response strategies: The liberalization of service provision in the European Union and national migration policy initiatives" . In European Union Studies Association (EUSA) > Biennial Conference > 2001 (7th), May 31-June 2, 2001, pages 26, Madison, Wisconsin.

Abstract

This paper seeks to examine the shape of EU immigration policy for discernible regularities in a deductive fashion. I argue that the overarching pattern of regulation in immigration policy is congruent with and indeed to some extent part of EU social policy. A vague, broadly inclusive and non-intrusive "safety net" emerges, within which national arrangements can unfold. Though this safety net is often based on individual national initiatives, it is watered down so much that it presents little more than a "lowest common denominator" solution. The empirical case studies from which this regulatory pattern are distilled are firstly the EU driven liberalization of service provision and national response strategies addressing this attempt to foster internal labor migration in Austria, France, the Netherlands, and Germany. Secondly, national initiatives at promoting immigration from third countries are considered, among which are Germany and Austria's programs on seasonal and contract labor (Saisonarbeitskräfte-Werkvertragsarbeitnehmer) and the new programs to invite highly skilled IT professionals on a temporary basis.