Meanwhile there is a strong political imperative to show that the EU is not going to become a federal superstate. Under the traditional model, member-states have to apply EU legislation directly, in the case of a regulation, or implement it through a new national law, in the case of a directive. The Commission and the European Court of Justice then ensure that governments keep to the rules. The new approach should be seen as complementary to, rather than opposed to the EU's traditional legislative methods. Each government tries to fulfil centrally-agreed objectives in the light of its own experience and national conditions.
Governments learn from each others' experiences as the process continues.
Moral pressure is applied to those which stray from the agreed path. The Commission does not drive the policy agenda, but can play a useful role in providing information, monitoring progress and highlighting shortcomings. That is happening in employment policy. Labour market reform is primarily the responsibility of national governments. But the EU is becoming a forum in which governments can swap examples of best practice.