Speaking of social welfare in Europe now signifies speaking of reforms.

This issue follows up on the analyses previously published by the Revue française des Affaires sociales of the Welfare State reforms in the EU countries since the '90s, this time by addressing Continental and Southern European Welfare States.

The first part examines the economic, political and social dynamics at work in the recent reforms. It also sheds light upon the edification of a Social Europe and the role played by the European treaties in the evolution of welfare systems.

Two particular aspects of these reforms are then developed :

- the issues constituted by gender equality in both the labour market and in family life for Social Welfare systems and the future thereof. A comparison of the situations in Europe and the United States underlines the particular importance of these questions.

- the justification and the effects of the retirement system reforms implemented by the Southern European countries where the population's aging is more rapid and more marked than in other European countries ; their experience holds great educational value.