New markets are opening for UK utilities firms to enter and for consultants to advise on privatisation, liberalisation and regulation. There will also be opportunities connected with the decommissioning of nuclear power plants in several candidate countries. All new EU member states will be bound by the Employment Chapter of the Amsterdam Treaty. This provides for increased European co-operation on employment, flexible labour markets and promoting employability. Each country produces a national employment action plan stating how they will implement the Guidelines.
Member states exchange best practice through peer review of the plans.
To help the leading candidate countries move towards accession, the UK is actively working with them on the further development and implementation of their employment and human resource development strategies so that they are more closely aligned to the standards of existing member states, and thus the Employment Guidelines. EU social policy covers a wide range of issues. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe often had very far-reaching social policies, linked to a great deal of regulation and state involvement in economic planning. Adapting an approach and social policy framework suited to a modern market economy involves considerable change and presents a significant challenge. Reforms are needed to address poor living standards, social exclusion, inefficient administration and outdated industrial relations.