ABSTRACT
The issue of whether a social dimension was necessary for the operation of the Single Market has long been controversial. Social policy, as understood in European Community (EC) law, is capable of a wide and varied definition and its boundaries are difficult to chart. The provisions relating to social policy in the EC Treaty are geographically scattered and conceptually diffuse. Before delivering the opinions provided for in this Article, the Commission shall consult the Economic and Social Committee. The consolidation of labour law and social policies in the Amsterdam Treaty, as well as developing new priorities and mission statements, serves to underline the fragmentary approach to social policy adopted by the Community. Nevertheless, a connection must be developed among the Commission's official documents, which have been presented as the conclusion of an 'era' but also constitute a bridge towards future social policies.
