Competitive Europe – Social Europe, partners or rivals? Foundation Forum 2006 Background paper

The third Foundation Forum puts forward the question: Competitive Europe – Social Europe: partners or rivals? The question is not here of course viewed from an historical perspective but rather in terms of how the various European social models are currently compatible with competitiveness. More specifically, the issue is how recent trends in globalisation, new technologies and the ongoing economic integration of Europe influence the relationships between social models and competitiveness. While the Forum will not be able to answer the basic question in a conclusive way, it may shed some light on what is today a very pertinent issue.