The European Social Services Index (ESSI) is an initiative by the European Social Network (ESN) to assess key aspects of social services across Europe, focusing on legislation, investment, and coverage. The 2024 report analyses data from 13 European countries—Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden—collected via questionnaires completed by social service professionals, national authorities, and experts.

Key findings:

1. Legislation: Variances exist in recognising social services as individual rights, defining services by law, and the strategic planning of services. Responsibilities for social services are distributed across national, regional, and local levels, with notable differences in governance.
2. Expenditure: Countries differ in how they budget for and define social services, with varied levels of investment at national and local levels.
3. Coverage: There are disparities in the availability of essential social services, including long-term care, child protection, domestic violence support, and homelessness aid.

The report provides country-specific recommendations for the European Commission to address gaps in social services through the European Semester framework, helping improve policies and practices across member states.