ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with the labour-market situation in European Union (EU) member states and the view on the relationship between work and citizenship which underlies employment policy. It deals with the likelihood of the emergence of a European dimension of citizenship. The citizenship rights have an ambiguous nature when they are examined within the context of the national welfare state. EU member states differ as regards their economic structure, their educational system, their political make-up and other factors that have a bearing on their employment policies, but in general, all EU member states concentrate their efforts on stimulating economic growth and so-called active labour-market policies. Policy recommendations such as those of the Essen European Council basically reflect what is already the core of national employment and labour-market policies. The shift to active labour-market policies marks the growing recognition of the urgent need to decrease the number of people on social security benefits.
