Europe and the Social Crisis: in support of a new European Social Contract

Abstract

Some analysts wonder whether “social Europe” or the “European social model” really exist, using the diversity of situation amongst the various countries in Europe as a base to their argument. Without denying that these differences exist they cannot bring into question the historic and political validity of the concept. The comparison of social and labour relations, as well as legal systems which guarantee rights in most European countries, with those in force in the rest of the world, notably in the emerging countries, is the greatest proof of this.