Browsing by Author "Enright, Richard Ryan"

This is an analysis of the evolution of the policy process concerning the eastward expansion of 2004 into the Central and Eastern European countries and the potential implications this has for the Finnish labour market. Through a method of policy analysis using the policy process specifically, key documents that shaped the debate and issues around the topic are used. Labour market organisation reports and governmental reports, government drafts, parliamentary committee reports and parliamentary debates from 2004 and 2006 were used as the key primary sources. The two time periods studied are the 2004 process for imposing the restrictions in and the subsequent lifting of restrictions in 2006. Also relevant and crucial to the discussion is the 2002 SAK report that details many of their key predictions and positions towards the issue. Crucial background information concerning the topic of intra-EU labour migration in general, the Finnish context of intra-EU labour migration and the neo-corporatist nature of Finnish policy making is also given in order to usher the reader through an understanding of the important topics of concern before considering the analysis. lmportantly, throughout the policy analysis, specific issues are constantly discussed and debated that become reoccurring themes for the nature of the entire debate for both the imposition of restrictions and their subsequent lifting. Through the policy analysis, the framework of Europeanisation in Finnish labour market policy ushers through to documents and the key issues and debates discussed throughout the policy process. The most important results lie in the presentation of key issues that reoccur throughout the policy process. These issues shaped the core affects of the transition period onto the Finnish labour market, which had both positive and negative affects. Certain issues such as free movement of services not being limited in the initial transition period ultimately cause significant affects on the characteristics of the Finnish labour market. Furthermore, Europeanisation of Finnish labour market policy can be found as the focus of the policy has also moved in line with Finlands ties with the European Union and is not only based on negotiations with important labour market organisations.