Abstract
The European Union does not have a direct right to intervene in matters in relation to the welfare state, including the main fields of social security. So far, these have been seen as belonging to the national prerogative. The European Union does, however, have an impact on social security, mainly by setting the agenda, and through the impact of the internal market on the economic situation in the member states. In addition, the European Union has an impact on the welfare state through its directives on equal treatment, equal pay and safety at work. The European Union also has the authority to make certain binding rules regarding migrant workers. These include the coordination and regulation of people moving and working across the European Union. On the whole, though, its ability to determine welfare state matters in the member states is limited. These limitations are the main reason why the European Union mainly acts by issuing recommendations. This type of intervention may have an impact in the sense that these recommendations can promote ideas and inspire developments within national systems. On the other hand, as these recommendations are often vague and unspecific they are a weak instrument. Recent changes in the Amsterdam treaty and the new employment policy can be seen as a new trend moving the European Union more in a direction that will enable it to intervene.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
B. Greve, ‘Indications of Social Policy Convergence in Europe’, in: Social Policy and Administration, 30 (1996), no. 4, p. 348–367.
Cf. E. Eichenhofer, European social security law. A case book, Osnabrück 1995.
B. Greve, ‘The Hidden Welfare State’, in: Scandinavian Journal of Social Welfare, (1994), no. 4, p. 203–211;
B. Greve, ‘The Hidden Welfare State’, in: Skatteudgifter i Danmark [Tax-Expenditures in Denmark], København: Skatteministeriet (Ministry of Taxation) et al., October 1996.
Skatteudgifter i Danmark (1996).
The figures in this paper are mainly taken from Statistisk 10 års oversigt, 1999 [Statistical Ten-Year Overview 1999] from Danmark Statistik (The Danish Statistical Office). The information concerning the social security system and the legal position will mainly be taken from: Sociale Ydelser. Håndbog i den sociale lovgivning og ydelser pr. 1. januar 1999 [Social Benefits. Handbook of Social Law and Benefits on January 1st, 1999], Viborg: Forsikringsoplysningen (Insurance Information), 1996.
Arbejdsmarkedets Tillœgspension (Labour market Supplementary Pension). The name derives from the fact that payment is conditional on having been employed on the labour market and on the amount of working hours. In 1999 the yearly pension for an individual who has paid contributions since 1964 is 18,600 Dkr.
Pensionssystemet og fremtidens forsørgerbyrde [The pension system and the future dependency level], København: Finansministeriet (Ministry of Finance), 1995. It must, however, be borne in mind that of those 1.5 million citizens covered in these mainly occupational based supplementary systems 650,000 persons have entered the system in 1989, 1991 and 1993. It will thus take thirty to thirty-five years before their pension, as part of a collective agreement, will have a real impact.
A. Møller Jensen and M. Verner, ‘Dagpengenes betydning for omfanget af arbejdsløshed i Danmark [Unemployment benefits impact on the level of unemployment in Denmark]’, in: Nationaløkonomisk Tidsskrift [Journal of National Economics], 134 (1996), no. 3, p. 238–256.
‘Council Recommendation of 27 July 1992 on the convergence of social protection objectives and policies’ (92/442/EEC), in: Official Journal of the European Communities, L245, August 26th, 1992, p. 49–52, I, A, sub 1 (d).
Pensionssystemet og fremtidens forsørgerbyrde (1995).
Supplementary pensions in Denmark — a description of the future pension system, Hillerød: ATP, 1995.
Pensionssystemet ogfremtidens forsørgerbyrde (1995).
M. Förster, Measurement of low incomes and poverty in a perspective of international comparisons, Paris: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 1994. Labour market and Occasional Papers no. 14.
See Bent Greve (Ed.), What Constitutes a Good Society, Houndsmills: Macmillan, 1999.
O. Ingerslev and L. Pedersen, Marginalisering: 1990–1994 [Marginalisation: 1990–1994], København: Socialforskningsinstituttet (Institute for Social Research), 1996.
Rapport fra udvalget om bistandslovens serviceydelser [Report of the committee on service in the social area], København: Socialministeriet (Ministry of Social Affairs), 1996; Rapport fra udvalget om kontanthjœlp, aktivering og revalidering M.v. [Report of the committee concerning social assistance, activation and rehabilitation etc.]), København: Socialministeriet, 1996.
Cf. Bent Greve and Danny Pieters (Ed.), Social security in an interdisciplinary approach, Brussels: Maklu, 1999.
Velfœrd — for hvem. Social forskning [Welfare — for whom. Social research], København: Social-forskningsinstituttets, 1998.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Greve, B. (2000). Denmark. In: van Vugt, J.P.A., et al. Social Security and Solidarity in the European Union. Contributions to Economics. Physica, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-57676-8_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-57676-8_3
Publisher Name: Physica, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-7908-1334-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-57676-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive