Neofunctionalist Theories and the Development of European Social and LabourMarket Policy

Abstract

This article discusses whether traditional neofunctionalist theories are relevant in the analysis of political integration in Europe. The discussion is based on an analysis of the development of co‐operation on social and labour market issues in the EU since the mid‐1980s. The role of supranational actors, particularly the Commission, is examined in connection with the development of co‐operation on social and labour market issues. It concludes that the neofunctionalist concept of ‘spillover’ is useful in the attempt to explain political integration in the social policy and labour market fields. The article makes a case for the revision of traditional neofunctionalist theories so as to incorporate concepts that capture the increasingly significant impact of treaty revisions in connection with the development of co‐operation in these fields. The concept of institutional/legalistic spillover is introduced to illustrate the integrative effects of the treaty negotiations on the development of co‐operation.