The Services Directive - Consequences for the Welfare State and the European Social Model

Conference arranged by CBS Law Department.

The much debated Services Directive was adopted on 12 December 2006. Questions about its impact on the provision of welfare services arise. This conference brings together leading legal scholars from a number of European countries to consider and discuss the consequences of the Directive for the welfare state and the European social model.

As Community law stands at present there is an increasingly blurred line between state and market. On the one hand, there is a wave of liberalisation and privatisation which is changing the traditional way of setting up welfare services. At the same time certain basic values and principles, e.g. non-discrimination, equality, social inclusion, and access to essential services are being pursued in the market place, elevating fundamental rights, values and principles from restrictions on state action to general principles of law binding for both the state and private actors on the market.

The conference is part of a project "Blurring Boundaries: EU Law and the Danish Welfare State". Get more information about the project here

Conference webpage