The Future of Social Europe and of European Integration at a Crossroads: How Can We Recover and Enforce Solidarity as a Fundamental Principle of European Constitutional Law (or Die)?

This contribution is conceived as an ideal conversation with Silvana Sciarra about the present crisis of social Europe and European integration, starting from the ideas and suggestions she has proposed in her recent essay on Solidarity and Conflict. European Social Law in Crisis (Cambridge University Press, 2018). In a proactive perspective, shared with this author, the conversation is focused on the possible ways to restore and enforce solidarity as a fundamental principle of European Constitutional Law. After framing the book in the current debate and highlighting Sciarra’s general approach face to the crisis of solidarity in the EU, we point out her understanding of two main issues – the role played by the Courts, especially Constitutional Courts, in that crisis; the present and potential role of cooperation and “synergies”, both at the judicial and at the institutional level, both within and beyond the EU, in order to develop the social dimension of the integration process – and, in so doing, we express our personal opinions as a contribution to the same debate. Finally, face to the increasing risk of disintegration, we wonder if we are still in time to avoid a new European dark age, by applying Sciarra’s proposal as an antidote to “fears” and as a remedy which should lead to reconcile the European project with the principles social Constitutionalism and European citizens, concluding that all Europeans of goodwill, and especially policymakers, should listen to her call to action and engage with no delay to achieve this absolutely primary objective