Category: Health and Social Policy

Brexit and the Interpretation of Domestic Rights

Niall O’Connor Brexit and Rights Engagement Network It might be thought that Brexit would have very little impact on the interpretation of domestic rights. Surely, post-Brexit, British judges will continue to interpret British law as they always have done? The reality may not be so simple. First, there has long been interaction between courts in …

Enforceability of Workers’ Rights after Brexit

Rebecca Zahn Brexit and Rights Engagement Network In the run-up to the Brexit referendum, workers’ rights were invoked repeatedly by both sides of the campaign, as either a reason to back or oppose a British exit from the EU. Following the referendum, the debate over workers’ rights and their continuing protection once the UK leaves …

Brexit and EU Social Policy: Uncertainty for the UK, Opportunities for the EU

Pieter Pecinovsky LERU Brexit Seminar The relationship between the EU and the UK has always been characterised by a troublesome dialogue of ambivalence. This is particularly the case concerning the European Union’s social policy. When the ambitious Delors Commission wanted to introduce a chapter on social policy into the EU treaties with the Treaty of …

The ‘Headscarf Rulings’: Did the Court of Justice Really Ban Headscarves in the Workplace?

Rebecca Zahn The recent EU court rulings on wearing headscarves in the workplace demonstrate the conflict between enabling EU economic freedoms on the other hand and protecting the rights of workers on the other, writes Rebecca Zahn. She argues that, while the judgements are nuanced in their determination of acceptable work requirements, the weight given …

What Future Has the European Union after its Sixtieth Anniversary – Back to the Future?

Colin Imrie The main challenge facing today’s European Union is to find ways to bring together the diverging interests of its many members, writes Colin Imrie. He argues that, if the EU27 manage to arrive at a common vision combining economic and social priorities, the EU could begin once again to demonstrate its relevance and …

Scotland’s Minimum Pricing – Balancing Public Policy and the Single Market

Arianna Andreangeli In-Depth Analysis The Court of Session’s ruling on minimum pricing of alcohol in Scotland has upheld that the policy is an appropriate and proportionate restriction on the free movement of goods, writes Arianna Andreangeli. Analysing the judgement, she argues that it marks a significant development in reaffirming that, in certain cases, public health …

The Deal on EU Immigration and Welfare is Symbolic – But Brexit Won’t Solve the ‘Problem’ of EU Immigration Either

Christina Boswell The free movement provisions of the UK’s EU renegotiation are unlikely to reduce EU migration to the UK because they do not focus on the factors which drive EU workers to come in the first place, writes Christina Boswell. She argues that, instead of in-work benefits, the real debate on immigration should focus …

Post-Crisis Policymaking in Europe: The Politics of Expertise

Elke Heins and Hartwig Pautz The shift towards ‘evidence-based’ policymaking and pressure from the EU have pushed European governments to increasingly make use of technocratic expertise in policymaking, write Elke Heins and Hartwig Pautz. They call for a new research agenda to explore the facets of ‘independent evidence’ and the role of austerity in European …