The principle(s) of co-existence in Europe: Social, economic and legal avenues

The European policy of coexistence follows a number of well-established social, economic and legal principles. Applying these principles in practice has resulted in a complex “rag rug” of coexistence policies in Europe. This rag rug makes enforcement of these principles difficult, at times even impossible. This chapter will review the pros and cons of applying different social, economic and legal principles in Europe, mainly form an economic perspective. It will discuss the dilemmas, consequences, and sometimes contradictory results of the European coexistence policy and its potential future developments.