New perspectives for a Social Europe: The “Social Pillar” and the European Semester as triggers for a new paradigm of social rights?

European policy-making has focused on economic and budgetary policies in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007- 2008 and the austerity programmes that ensued. Recent years, particularly those under the Juncker Commission (2014- 2019), have seen new social issues appear on the European agenda and European social policy gaining momentum – at least on a rhetorical level. The “socialising” of the European Semester, the declaration of an “European Pillar of Social Rights” and a recalibration of the European Social Fund are key parts of this new social agenda. While this seems to be a promising reinvigoration of a Social Europe, the classic regulatory approach to social policy remains more or less in stalemate. This article asks whether we face a promising new governance mode with substantial policy implications or if these are merely symbolic actions designed to give Europe a more social face. In exploring this issue, the article evaluates the social policy-related country specific recommendations (CSRs) for Spain and Germany in the European Semesters. First, it asks whether the recommendations mirror the specific problem constellations and the new agenda of the “Social Pillar”. Second, it evaluates how far both member states integrate the CSRs into their domestic policies.