Introduction

under this heading we want to contribute to the development of a consciousness of social professions in regard of the process of European integration. This means to discuss specific issues, make relevant information available and document respective positions.

As far as it is not concerned with the harmonisation of the economic sector, the debate on a social Europe is not going far, yet. However there is an urgent need for the intervention by the social professions. Otherwise, the foreseeable argument in regard of a European Social Union respectively European social politics will be reduced on the role of flanking the economic process. The first step for engaging in this debate is that professionals have to elaborate a position by their own, which has to be developed further.

The fundamental question is which social or welfare model will be established throughout the EU. Furthermore and by this, it has to be clarified which tasks will be regulated on the EU level. The other way round this means to look at the lasting scope of the national governments. The answer on these questions will give an insight in the position of social work. On the one hand, this position is being defined from the top, marking a position, which is assigned by the responsible high-level politicians. However, on the other hand this position is as well defined by the demands of the profession itself, by the input coming from the bottom. Will we find the development of social help, financed by regular contributions and allowances and carried out by volunteers and the respective voluntary organisations? Or will there develop models based on freelance work and aimed on profit? – Obviously, the latter would be a pathway in accordance with the ideals of the market. At the time being it sounds quite optimistic to hope for a model of social work laid down in the constitution of a social state, founded on ethical principles and the idea of social justice and furthermore equipped with the guarantees of a lawful state, thus legitimised publicly. The orientation on the Scandinavian or the Rhinian mode will not be sufficient for a future perspective. More than this: social problems increasingly have to be acknowledged as transnational in character. In the frame of globalised, international economic problems, challenges and consequences alike develop according to a common pattern in Europe – the European Monetary Union is of particular meaning in fostering this development. Social work has to answer these challenges. Starting with the debate on the demand for a European Social Union and going on to discuss the role of social work in the European model of society a consideration is just beginning to evolve within the profession. In a way this is too late already, considering that the social processes and the discussion in other frameworks alike in fact takes place since the process of European integration started in the 50s. The ideas on today's agenda are dominated particularly by questions of existing spaces for (re-)distribution, on models of the social state. Debates originally concerned with the interests of the social profession, however, are not taken up in a wider frame. Anyhow, up to now it is an open question if the previous development will lead to the standardisation of social services or if it is possible to learn from different national experiences and to test best national practices in different contexts. The decision on issues like this will be dominated by align criteria as long as the profession leaves itself standing aside.

There are open questions all over the field. With this webpage we will try to contribute to search for answers.

We invite interested people

• To take part in the debate;
• To look at information on conferences, new decisions, programs, funding opportunities and new developments in European social work and social policy alike;
• To gain from projects experiences;
• To read about publications and have a look at reviews

Here you find information:
Newsletter Europa

We invite you to take part in the debate and in shaping this page: Those who have information, want to give their view on specific issues and developments in the fields mentioned above may send these to the editors. The editorial board will decide on the publication – eventually after asking for a reformulation.