The purpose of this study is to examine how social rights were addressed during the period of the economic crisis that affected the European Union, specifically the countries of southern Europe. Social rights are approached in this specific context as a whole. However, a specific case study is also presented in order to highlight more vividly the limitations that austerity measures imposed on specific social rights.

The question that this study aims to answer is whether the financial crisis that affected Greece and other heavily indebted countries in the Eurozone has demonstrated the gap between the rhetoric and the reality of social Europe. Specifically, the examination focuses on whether the provisions of international and European law that safeguard social rights can mitigate the social impact of austerity measures, giving a social dimension to EU economic and social policies.