The European Social Model

In his speech before the European Parliament in June 2005, Mr. Blair affirmed: "The issue is not between a "free market" Europe and a social Europe, between those who want to retreat to a common market and those who believe in Europe as a political project...the purpose of social Europe and economic Europe should be to sustain each other. Our social model should enhance our ability to compete, to help our people cope with globalization, to let them embrace its opportunities and avoid its dangers. Of course we need a social Europe. But it must be a social Europe that works". ËThere is no definition of "European social model", nevertheless the Lisbon summit of March 2000 stated that "the European social model is based on good economic performance, a high level of social protection, education, and social dialogue. An active welfare state should encourage people to work, as employment is the best guarantee against social exclusion". Even before the French and Dutch "No" vote to the treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union, these objectives have been recognized as too ambitious and not realistic at all. The European Social Model contributes to the current debate at the international level on the future of Europe, taking into account that the word 'model' hints at a progressive real convergence of views among member states on the broad objectives which they seek to achieve in employment and social policy. The contributors analyze different aspects of the social model, starting from the role of the institutions and their competence, also in the light of the provision of the Constitutional Treaty. Particular attention is given to the employment policy, the protection of fundamental rights, the freedom of movement of citizens, and the social dialogue at European level.