ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS: TRENDS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Initiatives for social reforms are part of the governmental agendas of almost
all European countries. The introduction of support for the households by guaranteeing
minimum incomes, activation of the social assistance beneficiaries, as well as
delivery of integrated services in the local community are the main challenges of the
contemporary social protection systems.
Reflecting the significance of institutions (establishment, organization and
administrative capacity) as a key condition for achievement of socially-accepted goals,
European countries, in the last few decades, have been implementing administrative
reforms of social protection systems. The countries are searching for improved institutional
arrangements for maximization of policy effects directed towards social inclusion
and reduction of social tensions in the societies. In most cases, countries introduce
administrative modalities based on managerial doctrines of governing (new
public management), while others experiment with a certain form of decentralization
which usually includes initiatives for local provision of social services and, in certain
cases, integration with employment services. Yet, although a part of the administrative
reforms are being implemented with the same purpose, they lead to different
institutional solutions as a result of the social context in which they are framed.
This article gives an overview of the trends in the development of the social
protection systems of the European countries, which despite the efforts for convergence
of social policies and the creation of a unified social model, continue to show
diversity of legal and institutional solutions at the national level.