The welfare state through the lens of the social investment perspective: transformations and challenges

The paper examines the transformations in modern welfare states and the use of social investment as an approach to limit and overcome the major challenges to the European social model. The conceptual development of the approach to the needs of the EU political engagement in the social sphere is built on the basis of the links between economy, employment and social policy. The research interest in the issue has been provoked by the activity of the EU to restart its social dimension in an attempt to give a new impetus to the idea of a social and inclusive Europe for its citizens.