This project aims to determine the effect the EU has had through soft law on Ireland's social inclusion policies. In 1997 Ireland developed a National Anti-Poverty Strategy while at EU level the Amsterdam Treaty allowed the EU and member states to take action in the field of social exclusion. This was furthered with the development of the Open Method of Co-operation in 2000. Thus, this project aims to analyse the relationship between these developments and assess the Europeanisation of social inclusion policies in Ireland. This work will further our knowledge of the EU's influence in areas that are viewed as nationally determined policy areas and outside the EU's legal remit as well as furthering our knowledge of "interactive" and non-hierarchical Europeanisation.
An Examination of the Europeanisation of Social Inclusion Policies in Ireland