Том 2 - Тенденции и предизвикателства в развитието на ...

THE MYTH OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODELAssоc. prof. PhD. Petia TanovaAssоc. prof. PhD John ViolarisFrederick University of Cyprus“The European Social Model exists, is now a pan-European concept…andhas been recognised officially (and roughly defined) in EU summit conclusions.”Anna Diamantopoulou 66"The European social model has already gone, because it could no longerassure jobs for youths.”Mario Draghi 67Any model is a theoretical construction. Its purpose is to identifyand structure the salient features of the studied subject in order to explainwhat is searched to be explained. Economists build and use models inorder to examine theoretically and empirically the nature and prospectsof social progress and clarify the essentials of economic activity of individualsand social groups.In her statement on the European social model, A. Diamantopoulouremarks that “a 'model' is a notion often developed in order to explainwhat one is not, rather than what one is” and goes further in her analysisalong the lines of comparing the European social model to the “Anglo-Saxon” and the Japanese ones. 68 The European Trade Union Confederation(ETUC), as well, emphasizes on differences as an argument for identifyingthe European Social Model: “European Union Member Statesshare a common vision of how society should be organized, which isdifferent from other parts of the world. This has come to be known as the666768Diamantopoulou A., former European Commissioner responsible for Employmentand Social Affairs, 'The European Social Model – myth or reality?' Address at thefringe meeting organised by the European Commission's Representation in the UKwithin the framework of the Labour Party Conference Bournemouth, UK, 29September 2003La Trubune, Paris, 27. 02. 2012http://www.easesport.org/ease/fichiers/File/social-dialogue/ad290903_en.pdf95