SOCIAL INSURANCE SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

This article analyzes the main features of the social insurance system in the countries of the European Union, its structure, financing mechanisms, and coordination rules at the European level. Although each member state has the right to independently establish its national social insurance system, common coordination rules have been introduced to ensure the free movement of European Union citizens and the protection of their social rights. The article compares the share of social protection expenditures in gross domestic product (GDP), key policy directions, and various social models. The results of the study indicate that the social insurance system in European Union countries serves as an effective mechanism for protecting the population from social risks; however, due to population aging and increasing financial pressures, it requires continuous reforms