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Inegualities and Social Europe Zsófia Katalin Kollányi In the history of the European Union, there has been a clear trend in the past decades of subordinating the social dimension of European integration to the interests of the common market and economic development. This has led to social tensions stemming from growing inequalities both within and between the EU Member States. In the following, we will review the main contours of this debate, looking at the definitions and conceptions of inequality, the data showing how it has actually evolved in recent decades, as well as the positions of those who advocate for a more integrative focus on social policy as part of the broader process of European integration. We will contrast their arguments with the views of the proponents of a more traditional ‘economy first’ approach. In concluding, we will argue that for both political and policy reasons inequality needs to be better defined and understood, and the social dimension of European integration must be strengthened in order the reduce the underlying political and social tensions which threaten to tear the fabric of the European project apart. Keywords: social inequalities, European Social Model, subsidiarity, sovereignty, economic crisis INTRODUCTION - BREXIT ON THE SURFACE In June 2016, the citizens of the United Kingdom decided by a majority vote that their country should leave the European Union. In the debates preceding the referendum, a number of arguments and counterarguments were raised both on the Leave and the Remain sides. Nevertheless, most of the arguments centered on a few core issues revolving around the prosperity of the country, albeit understood in different dimensions. Although Brexit is not specifically the subject of this volume, there is no doubt that the secession of the UK and the political turmoil both in the run-up to the decision and its aftermath aptly illustrate a whole range of problems and fears concerning the future of the European community. We find many overlaps between these concerns and the topics addressed in the different chapters of this book. And this particular chapter also covers a multifaceted issue.
