Overcoming the subsidiarity reflex? Sweden, the Netherlands and the making of social Europe

Sven Schreurs, David Bokhorst, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies, Hugo Sinzheimer Institute, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Department of Political and Social Sciences, European University Institute

Journal of European Social Policy

Published online on January 11, 2026

Abstract

Journal of European Social Policy, Ahead of Print.
Since the launch of the European Pillar of Social Rights in 2017, the EU has witnessed a marked revival in social policy-making. Existing research highlights the role of institutional entrepreneurs and advocacy coalitions, but tends to overlook the ...