The debate on the concept of flexicurity at the European Union level

Abstract

The aim of this article is to focus on the concept of flexicurity, accepted as the new labour market model balancing the needs of employers for greater flexibility in order to adapt to market forces, and the need of employees for security, which has recently been one of the most popular concepts of the debate on labour market reforms in the European Union (EU). While doing so, this article discusses the position of key European institutions, especially of the Commission of the European Communities (CEC). The main argument is that the concept is still very open to alternative interpretations at the EU level. Related to this openness is the fact that the Commission has deliberately instrumentalized the concept’s ambiguity in order to absorb all the main actors into the debate in line with its own policy preferences.