Travelling abroad for pleasure, education, or work has become a natural part of life for many European citizens. Products and services can be bought in another member state when required, but obtaining healthcare outside their country of residence still presents a problem to most European citizens.

The European social model is basically a promise of politicians to their citizens: a promise to protect their citizens from certain problems, "to take care of them". Nowadays, the promise of social security is the most important offer that the politicians have to offer to their citizens in exchange for their support of the project of the European Union.