The Future of Social Citizenship in the EU

EUSOCIALCIT Flagship REPORT 2 emphasizes priorities for the further development of EU social citizenship and the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR). Grounded in the project's resource-based conception of social rights, this report identifies key findings and proposes recommendations for shaping the future of Social Europe.

The introductory chapter briefly outlines the project’s resource-based conception and key concepts, summarizing key findings and paving the way for forward-looking recommendations. Chapter two reviews rationales justifying the EU’s role in social rights, providing the general backdrop which has motivated our choice of studying EU social citizenship and arguing in favour of its further development. 

Chapter three aligns EUSOCIALCIT’s findings with the recent High-Level Group (HLG) Report on social protection and the welfare state in the EU, noting the synergy between the two. The fourth chapter evaluates the EPSR’s implementation in terms of power resources, emphasizing the need to address accessibility issues to counter non-take up and its adverse consequences. 

Chapter five emphasizes social investments, particularly in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), advocating for a re-evaluation of economic governance and increased social targets in fiscal plans. Chapter six addresses challenges in social protection and inclusion, urging the EU to adopt a more ambitious approach, both legislatively and financially, to achieve 2030 targets. 

Chapter seven focuses on the gender issue, particularly work-life balance, highlighting the need for further intervention despite the 2019 directive’s legal impetus. Recommendations include addressing low paternal leave uptake and strengthening instrumental resources for vulnerable individuals. 

The concluding chapter systematizes insights and proposals, offering policy recommendations under three main headings: institutional recalibration for social inclusion, infrastructural enhancement for instrumental and output production resources, and improved governance of the ‘marble cake’ metaphor that symbolizes EU social citizenship. These proposals aim to guide the future direction of EU social policy, emphasizing inclusivity, sustainability, and effective governance.