Résumé :
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The European Union has a federal structure, in which each citizen is subject to two governments. The position of social policy within the federation is contested, but the EU has gradually developed powers through the extension of its competence, direct intervention in social welfare issues and the push for "convergence", or agreement on minimum standards. Consistent withn its federal nature, the European model of the welfare state is based on convergence, integratation of the excluded and social protection through the gradual extension of solidarity. The precise role that the federal government will take on within this unclear, but it is already having a major impact on social welfare and its influence is likely to increase.
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