The Social Policy of the European Union

This paper aims at briefly analyzing the social policy of the European Union (EU), in terms of its place, purpose and objectives in the general EU policies, as well as from the legal and practical points of view. The main objectives of the employment and social policy in the EU member states are promoting full employment of people able to work, improving living and working conditions, and harmonizing frameworks for working and growth. Therefore, several measures are implemented in all domains of economic policies. The European social model combines economic dynamism with social justice. Population and workforce ageing, as well as other changes in the society will create a continuous and growing pressure on social protection systems. This paper contributes to an ongoing dialogue by discussing unemployment and social policies from both a psychological point of view, as well as from the perspective of economic theory and practice.