Lithuanian Social Policy in the European Social Model Map

Social policy development of the European Union has become an increasingly important aspect which EU takes in defining and implementing any policy. The aim of regional policy is cohesion and economic development for all countries. Different scientific sources claims that the welfare state model has to be taken into account with high priority, because social costs, that are dedicated to reduce the economic divine, are raising economic potential, and contribute to the economic development and cohesion. The new EU members are changing the types of social models because of integration to the economy of European Union. Some authors noted that the number of European social models is increasing. The literature about welfare state model was reviewed in this paper. Also statistical analysis was applied for socio - economic indicators in different EU states identifying social model clusters and statistical differences. The different characteristics of clusters were compared as well.