The Impact of Socio-economic Inequality on the Relations Between the European Union Countries and the Assessment of Strategic Areas for its Reduction

The issue of inequality between economic bodies have always interested scholars worldwide. Nowadays, there are countries with different models of economic development, scientific and technical potential, and socio-cultural characteristics in the EU. This impacts the increase in economic inequality and the level of poverty in individual partner countries of the union. The presented research aims to study key strategies and programs, particularly the “European Pillar of Social Rights,” implemented by the EU countries in today’s context. As a theoretical and methodological basis, the research uses the historical-logical approach, dialectical principles and contradictions, and the method of scientific abstraction. The process-system approach, employed in an in-depth analysis of the key economic indicators of the union members, was critical in rationalizing the need to stabilize macroeconomic indicators in the EU countries and reduce socio-economic inequality when implementing key strategies and programs for the prosperity of EU countries. This research examines the key programs implemented in the EU countries, assesses their timeliness and pragmatism, and presents the positions of leading Russian and international scholars on the issue of socio-economic inequality between the EU countries and priority areas for its reduction in current realities. The research focuses on calculating economic indicators, specifically the average monthly nominal wages of employees in certain countries of the EU, and assessing the population’s consumer confidence index, the poverty rate, and the income concentration index (Gini coefficient). The research presents the main principles and features of the “European Pillar of Social Rights” of the EU and explores the key areas that this program will affect in the medium and long term. Based on this, a scheme has been formed, which presents the key principles of the proposed program and identifies the main opportunities that partner countries will be able to receive after its implementation. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.