Europe is undergoing a period of profound transformation that challenges the foundations of the social contract underpinning its unity and democratic governance. Geopolitical instability and insecurity, populism, gender inequality, climate change, institutional mistrust, digital transformation, and the aftermath of pandemics have highlighted the urgent need to renew this contract. EXPRESS2 responds to this call by advancing a new, inclusive, participatory, and resilient European social contract.
In this context, EXPRESS2 responds to the urgent need to rethink and renew the EU social contract. Unlike traditional social contracts based on tacit consent, EXPRESS2 introduces the concept of an “express” social contract, in which both EU institutions and individuals are recognised as active parties capable of deliberating, negotiating, and articulating their rights and obligations.
The project pursues 4 interrelated objectives: 1) to conceptualise a concrete proposal for an express EU social contract, moving from implicit consent to explicit participation; 2) to foster inclusive narratives that communicate the benefits of this social contract and strengthen civic engagement; 3) to analyse disruptive elements that threaten the integrity of social contracts; 4) to provide policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the resilience and legitimacy of the EU.
The project’s pathway to impact is threefold: 1) at academic level, EXPRESS2 develops an innovative framework that reconceptualises social contracts as living, participatory, and deliberative tools; 2) at policy level, it engages directly with EU institutions to deliver practical tools, narratives, and proposals that inform policymaking in areas such as fundamental rights, democratic resilience, and civic inclusion; 3) at societal level, empowers Europeans to participate in democratic life and strengthens the legitimacy of the EU.
