European sovereignty and the social dimension

Policy Brief

In response to a changing geopolitical reality, economic nationalism, strong far-right movements, the concept of European sovereignty has emerged. Yet while important progress had been made in defence and security cooperation, Europe’s economic and social agenda remains inconsistent. Too often, policy debates have moved toward deregulation and financialisation, building on decades of neoliberalism.

This policy brief argues that European sovereignty cannot be reduced to military or geopolitical autonomy. A strong Europe abroad depends on a resilient Europe at home. Sovereignty must therefore include a renewed social dimension. This means protecting citizens, strengthening solidarity, and ensuring democratic control over economic power. By placing social cohesion at the heart of its strategic response, the European Union can show that sovereignty can, above all, help enhance its capacity to address citizens’ everyday concerns.

Five years after the adoption of the Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights in Porto, this brief proposes  a new EU socioeconomic steering agenda:

1. Promote the social model as a key part of Europe’s fight for strategic autonomy;
2. Build EU borrowing capacity to unlock investment and expand fiscal space to affront geopolitical tensions, climate imperatives, and help social stabilisation;
3. Tighten economic steering and social rights by using public procurement rules to promote a high-road to competitiveness;
4. Revive public services to fight social deprivation by removing EU constraints and adding resources for subnational action;
5. Restore social targets at the heart of the European integration agenda and its governance tools to ensure effective implementation.

Europe’s sovereignty must be social to be sustainable. This is the European social democratic model.