Future prospects - Has the European Social Model really gone?

The chapter focuses on three main issues. First we start with an analysis of the supposed death of the European Social Model (ESM). Section two then looks at the actual problem in balancing the ESM with European integration. Section three provides some tempting answers about the need for the EU to further develop its social dimension: while many have interpreted this social dimension as the origin of the European disease, others (including ourselves) stress that it is the most promising step to exit the crisis. We consider this a fundamental element to provide more legitimacy to the European project and to make the European economy grow again. Section four offers some conclusions.