Henning Meyer, Head of European Programme for the Global Policy Institute, kicked off the debate on New Social Europe in London on 11 March 2008 by warning that if certain issues aren’t currently reflected within the debate, such as economic globalisation, they become accepted as givens. He then put to the floor what we mean when we talk about social Europe. There are different applications of the social model, but there seems to be a consensus on some key elements:
a responsive political economy
free and compulsory education
active protection of environment
robust welfare state
limitation of inequality
However, the economic layers of governance have been eroded by globalisation. There is an increased pressure on costs. If we debate the reform of the European social model, we need to debate the reform of globalisation. Economic globalisation increases within and between countries.
How can we develop a politics of international redistribution?
Henning proposed that we needed a politics of national and international redistribution - we need to explore a global social politics. This includes:
reforming how we measure the gross domestic product. We need to define indicators which better take into account well being rather than just consumption.
harmonising corporate taxation at a European level. If we don’t, countries ironically lose sovereignty, as when one country reduces corporate taxation, other countries have to follow.
See more of his proposals and his debate here:
Check out the different debates of the "Globalisation of the community, how can we build a more social Europe" here:
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