This book examines the significant shifts in European Union social policy in recent years in the context of the EU2020 strategy and the European Semester. In particular it examines the social dimension, especially the anti-poverty component of Europe 2020 by illustrating the main supranational, national and sub-national developments across 5 countries - Germany, Italy, Poland, UK and Sweden.

It asks whether and how, Europe matters in the fight against poverty and social exclusion within the new (strengthened) framework and sheds light on the core factors affecting the...