Henning Meyer, Head of European Programme for the Global Policy Institute, kicked off the New Social Europe debate of the PES Manifesto Consultation by warning that if certain issues aren’t currently reflected within the debate, such as economic globalisation, they become accepted as givens.

He then put to the floor what we mean when we talk about social Europe. There are different applications of the social model, but there seems to be a consensus on some key elements:

• a responsive political economy
• free and compulsory education
• active protection of environment
• robust welfare state
• limitation of inequality

However, the economic layers of governance have been eroded by globalisation. There is an increased pressure on costs. If we debate the reform of the European social model, we need to debate the reform of globalisation. Economic globalisation increases within and between countries.

How can we develop a politics of international redistribution?

Henning proposed that we needed a politics of national and international redistribution - we need to explore a global social politics. This includes:

• reforming how we measure the gross domestic product. We need to define indicators which better take into account well being rather than just consumption.

• harmonising corporate taxation at a European level. If we don’t, countries ironically lose sovereignty, as when one country reduces corporate taxation, other countries have to follow.

See more of his proposals and his debate here:

Check out the different debates of the “Globalisation of the community, how can we build a more social Europe” here

• How can we reform of the European social model as part of reforming globalisation?
• How can we rebalance the great swing towards internal market reforms with better social policy reforms?
• How can we make social Europe a concern for everyone?
• How can we go in confidently and boldly about intervening and imposing a degree of accountability?
• Proposals from the floor on the New Social Europe debate