Abstract

This article aims to identify the potential of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) to promote the participation of civil society in the policy-making process in the fields of employment and education in Slovenia. Our analysis reveals that both EU factors as well as national factors determine the role of the civil society in the OMC processes. At the EU level, neither of the two policy fields requires a (large–scale) harmonisation of national legislation with the European framework and they both place competence at the national level. Thus, national actors play the OMC game only “as much as it is required”. This leads to a very weak political will for making (extensive) policy changes at the national level. In relation to domestic factors, the existing structure or policy style is only marginally relevant to the participation of the civil society in the OMC processes. It seems that the (in)capability of civil society is closely linked to the extent/ limits of their knowledge about the OMC’s potential and opportunities. In the field of educational policy, the participation of civil society is further limited by lack of the financial resources.