The Future of the EU's Social Agenda

Abstract

The future of the EU’s social agenda is increasingly shaped by overlapping crises, shifting political coalitions, and evolving modes of EU governance. From the European Pillar of Social Rights to post-pandemic recovery instruments and green and digital transitions, social policy has gained renewed visibility while remaining constrained by institutional limits and political contestation. This panel explores how the EU’s social agenda is being redefined, expanded, or recalibrated in light of these developments. Contributions examine emerging priorities, policy instruments, and governance arrangements, as well as the distributional and political implications of EU social policy-making. The panel brings together theoretical, comparative, and empirical perspectives to assess the prospects for deeper social integration, the role of member states and social partners, and the interaction between social, economic, and environmental objectives. Particular attention is paid to questions of inequality, social investment, labour market transformation, and the politicisation of social Europe. By addressing both opportunities and constraints, the panel aims to advance debates on whether the EU’s social agenda is moving towards greater solidarity and social rights, or whether existing tensions risk limiting its future scope and impact.

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