Policy for Society

Abstract

A policy for society, no matter what political authority is concerned, is always varied in nature and because it is wide in scope and its methods are numerous generalisation about it is hazardous. Because this is so, and because of the diverse meanings attached to the term ‘social policy’ itself, it is worth while referring to the broad arguments for including social provisions in a new drive towards European integration and this, in turn, is helpful in defining those areas where the Union might be involved as well as indicating those where its interest is unlikely or marginal. They come down to three, namely political legitimacy, the recognition that some issues are European in dimension and the intertwining of some social questions with other Community policies. Although there is no argument, either in the draft treaty or this chapter, that the Union should usurp the functions of member states to promote social well-being, experience to date has shown that it should expect to play an important part.