ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines some of the consequences for the political position and policies of the organizations of social security claimants in Europe. For organizations of social security claimants it is nonetheless important to have a certain overview of the arguments. Medical science and the social security system, for example, have been developed to protect people against risks. Government expenditure is within reasonable limits, whereas the national income and employment figures are growing faster than the European average, even to the extent that, according to some, the Dutch economy runs the risk of becoming overheated. Supporters regard the process of European integration essentially as a large-scale social experiment, aimed at creating a sense of community between countries that have very different cultures and traditions, and once even waged war on each other. Varied groups of supporters and opponents with many different opinions take part in the debate on European integration.
