THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Abstract

Ukraine associates the prospects of its further development with integration into the European Union. As an integral part of Europe, Ukraine is guided by the model of socio-economic development adopted by European countries. The European social model is particularly attractive as a complex of coordinated approaches to social policy characterized by a significant role of the state in regulating social issues, a high level of social protection, support for social equality and justice, as well as a strong trade union movement and broad worker’s rights. Therefore, it is urgent: to deepen the understanding of the functioning of the European social model in the new conditions of current global transformations; to ensure the preservation and development of human capital in the conditions of war in Ukraine; to reform the social system and bring it into conformity with European social standards in the context of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union. The social model in force in the European Union demonstrates its effectiveness; in particular, its member states occupy leading positions in the UNDP’s Human Development Index rankings and in quality of life indicators comprising material living conditions, health, education, environment, economic security, fundamental rights, etc. The article’s objective is to identify the features of the development of the European social model and social standards of the European Union in the context of ongoing global transformations, in particular, regarding the quality of life and resilience of the quality of life, which is of great importance for the preservation and development of human capital. The novelty of the article consists in the determination (based on the analysis of quality of life indicators in European Union countries) of mechanisms providing resilience of the quality of life in the context of threats and risks affecting human development. The research used methods of system analysis, scientific generalizations and comparisons, and economic and statistical analysis. It revealed that a number of factors — personal, national, and international, — influences the quality of life. This It determines the urgency of ensuring the resilience of the quality of life: the ability of a person to maintain or restore the quality of life, despite adverse factors or stressful situations, and to adapt to a changing environment. The author postulates that an important preventive mechanism against the negative impact of adverse factors on human development and quality of life are is social programs that operate, to a greater or lesser extent, in different European Union countries, targeting aiming at finding solutions to social problems and improving the quality of life of their citizens. In the context of Ukraine’s integration into the European legal, political and economic space, it is urgent to reform the social system, taking into account legal and social European standards, which involves improving the system of insurance system, pension provision, labor protection, social programs, and other areas of social policy.

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