The social policies of the European Union

Abstract

The establishment of a single European market and the definition of European social policies which to facilitate the gradual closing up of the social policy of the member states and which to promote within the entire community a fast growth of the standard of living and tighter relations between the member states, is a priority and a challenge at the same time. In a broad meaning the social policy includes the activities of the state whose purpose is to change the characteristics of the social life of a community. The social policy of the European Union consists of the European labour legislation, of the legislation against discrimination, of dispositions regarding the health state and education, particularly from the dispositions and actions funded from the Structural funds. The fact that the last social agenda of the EU is structured on two priorities which regard decent jobs and social justice proves more and more the distinction between the active employment policies and the other types of social policies. The provisions of the European social agenda are to be transposed within the European employment strategy and then in the programs of each member state, function of the specific features of each country.