Abstract: The overall objectives of the CA are to establish a scientifically based assessment of the impact of privatisation and liberalisation in the EU upon the functioning of the emerging European Social Model (ESM) and thereby to contribute to the development of policies for the public and private sectors aiming at the strengthening of this model of society.

Sub-objectives of the CA are:
- to contribute to the advancement of knowledge about the configuration of private and public services most conducive to sustainable development of the European societies,
- to organise interdisciplinary communication between different scientific centres, social groups and political actors, and
- to contribute to the ongoing discussion about the role of the public sector in the development of the ESM.

These objectives will be pursued in three phases with 10 work packages. In phase 1, a state of the art stocktaking of the literature on the history and theory of liberalisation and privatisation and the European Social Model takes place. In phase 2 interdisciplinary analyses of the impact of liberalisation and privatisation on economic performance, social cohesion and political structures will be undertaken. In phase 3 conclusions from the results of the previous work will be drawn and policy proposals will be formulated.

Participants of the CA come from different disciplines and from countries with different social and political traditions. They will throughout the duration of the CA organise discussions with external experts from the scientific community and from political actors and other stakeholder groups.