La dimensión social del euro.

Even though the question on the need to reinforce the social dimension of the European project is definitely not a new one, the hard economic readjustments, the current political crisis and the growing disaffection amongst citizens towards the EU have rekindled the debate and require today an urgent response from the Union, which is today immersed in a deep reflection on its future and on the possibility of creating a Social Pillar. After a first analysis of the progressive evolution of the Union's social acquis, as well as of the European social rights and their limits, this paper will examine the different alternatives that are available for Europe to go further in the social field, either at the general EU-wide level or at the particular range of the European Economic and Monetary Union; assuming that the establishment of a European social model is a necessary and inevitable step to restore citizens' confidence in the integration project and to make Europe a real welfare state and an authentic social market economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]