This timely volume by one of the very best authorities on the EU offers an innovative analysis of the impact of the EU on welfare states at both the national and regional level. Given the EU's increasing influence on welfare states, this major new statement is poised to make an exciting and important contribution to current policy debates.

This timely volume by one of the very best authorities on the EU offers an innovative analysis of the impact of the EU on welfare states at both the national and regional level. Given the EU's increasing influence on welfare states, this major new statement is poised to make an exciting and important contribution to current policy debates.

This new study delivers a detailed analysis of the efforts being made to reduce poverty and social exclusion in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece. After an initial discussion of the 'southern model' of the welfare state, the situation of each country is clearly illustrated. This book also discusses how the experience of southern Europe might bear upon the situation of the East European accession countries. This is excellent reading for those interested in social change across Europe and beyond.

This volume presents research on the recasting of European welfare states from the European Forum on Welfare at the European University Institute in Florence. The chapters include both comparative analyses of topical issues (such as reforms of the major social programmes: pensions, health, social security and the changing political cleavages in welfare politics), and in-depth studies of changes in the major European countries.