The present special issue of Perspectives on Federalism reflects on the nature and characteristics of solidarity within a supranational context, it explains what solidarity has meant so far in the EU, how much solidarity we had during the crisis, what type of solidarity is needed and how to...

Should we explain the disappointing outcomes of the Open Method of Co-ordination on Inclusion by methodological weaknesses or by substantive contradictions in the ‘social investment' paradigm? To clarify the underlying concepts, we first revisit the original ‘Lisbon inspiration', and...

The debate on automatic stabilizers for the Euro area is definitely on the agenda. Analytically, the case for a stabilisation capacity is compelling; politically it is an uphill battle. We therefore need a careful exploration of different scenarios and a thorough understanding of how they fit...

We need a clear-cut concept with regard to the social dimension of the EU: not a European Welfare State, but a European Social Union. Why is it necessary? First, monetary integration requires supranational stabilization instruments: stabilization implies risk-sharing and a ‘responsibility...

Arguments on "social Europe" need to give an unequivocal answer to questions of why, what, and how. With regard to the question of why, I argue that, whereas ten years ago the quest for an operational description of the European social model might have been dismissed as interesting but not...

Arguments on 'social Europe' need to give an unequivocal answer to questions of why, what, and how. With regard to the question of why, which is the main focus of this paper, I argue that, whereas ten years ago the quest for an operational description of the European social model might have been...

In this report, Frank Vandenbroucke and Bart Vanhercke argue that Europe is in need of a "Social Union": one that would support national welfare states on a systemic level in some of their key functions (such as macroeconomic stabilisation) and guide the substantive development of national...

We need a coherent conception of a European Social Union. A Social Union would support national welfare states on a systemic level in some of their key functions and guide the substantive development of national welfare states – via general social standards and objectives, leaving ways and...