The transcendental construction of the social dimension of the European union: The challenges of the EU social model during and after the crisis

Abstract

This chapter aims at explaining what the European social model means, by exploring the creation and evolution of it. The linkage and dependence of the social and economic and financial interests is stressed, which results in a European social deficit. The authors argue that taking a positive-integration approach that would somehow balance the needs and responses and analyze the latest political and legal developments in this regard. Thus, the struggle between the financial and economic interests and the social aim is explained as a result of the origins of the European Union, the current competence division design and the decision-making process. This is illustrated by means of the struggle to approve the Equality and non-discrimination Directive proposals.