和其它政策领域一样，欧洲各国的社会政策也千差万别，而在流行的观点中社会政策涵盖很广，从疲惫保护主义到某些“老牌”欧洲国家的补贴要求，再到欧盟西部新成员（爱尔兰和葡萄牙）和东部新成员（波兰和斯洛伐克）们高涨的自由市场热情。
Social policies in Europe – like everything else – vary widely, and popular attitudes cover a spectrum, from tired protectionism and longing for subsidies in some of “old Europe” to the free-market enthusiasm of more recent EU members in the West (Ireland and Portugal) and the East (Poland and Slovakia).