Conclusion: Back to the Future – Towards a European Social Agenda

The European Union (EU) is living tremendous challenges generated by the high level of social disparities within and between national populations. European institutions have a decisive role in changing this situation and improving social protection policies. Chapters of this book demonstrate that despite certain successes of the EU’s tools in the social domain, there is much to be done to achieve the social goals of the EU, namely the promotion of convergence between countries and improving social cohesion within countries.