Social policy as an organized activity of the state aims to overcome social risks, help poor and excluded individuals and social groups through the improvement of the social welfare of citizens. The importance of social policy is essential for the entire society, not just for the socially excluded, minority or unemployed. In Europe, have been defined four social models: Nordic, Continental, Anglo-Saxon and Mediterranean. Europeanization is the process of constructing formal and informal rules, procedures, common beliefs and norms that are defined in EU public policy and included in the identity of political structures and public policies. Employment policy, which is closely linked to social policy, aims to enable the application of fair working conditions with social protection and inclusion in the labour market. The development of social policy in the Republic of Croatia is defined through three historical stages, namely: the pre-industrial era, the socialist period after World War II. and the period from 1990. The implementation of social policy is linked to the cohesion policy of the European Union, which is a strong instrument for the development and financing of regional inequalities from the European Structural Funds, all with the aim of further progress and creating a competitive environment. Europeanization is defined as a conceptual framework for fast-growing economies and national economies that systematically addresses the question of the extent to which the internal dynamics of nation-states are linked to European integration. Social issues are a reflection of social and economic processes and require a redefinition of social assistance and care, new institutional solutions and methods of work. European social problems and its implications affect economic growth, and the European Union is facing major social problems especially through increasing poverty and unequal redistribution of costs among the population. The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has changed the economic and social outlook for the economic situation of countries around the world. Investment and reforms are needed more than ever to ensure convergence and sustainable economic recovery. Implementing reforms and investing in social welfare are EU priorities, which directly affects Croatia.