THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL POLICY IN EUROPE

Social policy in the European Union(EU)remains sidelined inthedebates onthe future of Europe.In the last decade, EU has faced numerous crises having significant repercussions for its social policies, including immigration waves, the Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.As an area ofdirect concern to EUcitizens, withits features on employment, education/training, non-discrimination and equality bearingcrucial implications for their daily lives, social policy should be re-considered from an anglethat encompasses the citizens' perspectiveandeffectively addresses themajor challenges it faces in the new global order. The main objective of this study is to explore the implications of these challenges for EUsocial policy, which in turn, has a keyrole inshaping the future of the EU.