¿Qué perspectivas para el constitucionalismo social en Europa? (buscando, e intentando encender, luces en tiempos oscuros)

This essay firstly proposes a critical analysis of the evolution of the relationship between the European integration process and the principles of Social Constitutionalism (solidarity, substantive equality, protection of social rights), paying special attention to the constitutional changes that have affected the European Union and the Member States in the context of the recent economic crisis and have concretely entailed the «displacement of Social Europe». Secondly, it is argued that reconciling that process with the mentioned principles is necessary: in this perspective, the paper highlights the limits of some recent initiatives of the European institutions (namely, the European Pillar of Social Rights) and points out some further strategies and solutions (including the development of synergies with the system of the European Social Charter) which should be applied in order to achieve that objective and to restore solidarity as a fundamental principle of European Constitutional Law.