Social Protection in Europe

This guide is intended first and foremost as a tool for activists, rather than as yet another document describing and comparing the various social protection systems that exist in the Europe of 27 Member States and 28, 29 or more in future. Based on the real situations faced by women and men throughout the European Union it aims to facilitate: awareness of the approaches and thinking underlying European social protection systems; analysis of the structures and impact of the reforms that are being made; a better understanding of the strategic objectives of the European trade union movement and how these can be pursued at national level; the broadest possible mobilisation in support of those objectives and the underlying values of the social protection systems, such as solidarity and social cohesion. The guide is arranged in three main parts: notes providing general guidance for trainers, a set of information sheets covering major aspects of social protection, and suggested training activities that could be adapted for use by national trainers.