Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The preceding chapters have dealt with various methods of policy delivery in the EU. These methods differ, but they all are primarily based on traditional forms of EU law, regulations, directives, and decisions. This chapter deals with a different method of policy delivery, the Open Method of Coordination. The discussion begins by reviewing the European Council’s approval of the Open Method of Coordination, henceforth OMC, at the Lisbon and Nice Summits. This will be followed by consideration of the OMC process in the three key areas of economic policy, employment policy and social inclusion, which lays the foundation for the subsequent analysis. There is consideration of the differences between the OMC and more traditional modes of EU regulation. The focus then shifts to evaluation of the OMC, and how far it fulfils the aspirations that underpin this mode of policy delivery in the EU.</jats:p>