The Europeanisation of the Italian welfare state: channels of influence and trends

In this chapter, we look at the most recent evolution of the complex interplay between EU and domestic policymakers. We refer to Europeanisation as the process of ‘domestic adaptation to European regional integration’. The chapter has both descriptive and analytical aims. It first maps the key European governance and policy instruments that have shaped welfare reforms in Italy since the 2000s. The composition of EU instruments has changed over time and, especially in the shadow of the crisis, new instruments have been added. We then refer to the channels whereby the influence – both direct and indirect – of the EU on the Italian welfare state has occurred. Then, we address the question of whether – and how – EU pressure has become greater, especially in the wake of the Great Recession and the Eurozone crisis