Prepared under contract to the European Commission, Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities The overall objective of this study is to underpin the discussion on how the European Public Employment Services can contribute to the implementation of flexicurity in the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Flexicurity has attracted much political attention during the last years because it constitutes a compelling policy configuration, asserting that it is possible to achieve macroeconomic goals while ensuring a high level of social security and lifelong learning. The core components of flexicurity are flexible and reliable contractual arrangements, modern social security systems, comprehensive lifelong learning strategies, and active labour market policies (ALMP). The study seeks to inform the discussion on how PES can contribute to flexicurity. The following objectives have guided the study:

• To create an analytical framework for how PES can contribute to flexicurity;
• To map how PES pursue flexicurity practises in relation to jobseekers, employers, and inactive groups;
• To map how PES pursue flexicurity practises in relation to other actors and its internal organisation;
• To map the structural conditions required for the implementation of flexicurity;
• To identify good practise cases on how PES can contribute to the implementation of flexicurity;
• To create recommendations to PES and policy makers on how PES can improve their active role if flexicurity is applied.

The study covers all EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, and is based on multiple data sources and data collection activities.

The overall conclusion of the study is that European PES have largely adopted proactive and preventive approaches to the delivery of employment services, and that these practices are conducive for flexicurity.