biostudies-literatureUnknown33(5)Natili MIn the twentieth century national social policies stabilized the European state systems, favouring domestic concordance and citizens' support to the nation-building process. Welfare institutions have historically served this key political function also in federal systems, where social citizenship has been used as a tool to foster unity. In contrast, even though the EU devotes a consistent part of its (however limited) budget to social cohesion and inclusion programmes, it takes little credit for such efforts. Building on original survey data on public opinion collected in 2019 across ten EU countries, this article shows that, indeed, only a limited number of citizens are aware of the social role played by the EU in their local community. On the other hand, it demonstrates that citizens' awJournal of European social policy570-582https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10654031biostudies-literatureInvisible social Europe? Linking citizens' awareness of European cohesion funds, individual power resources, and support for the EU.PMC10654031Natili MVisconti FRonchi SfalseInvisible social Europe? Linking citizens' awareness of European cohesion funds, individual power resources, and support for the EU.In the twentieth century national social policies stabilized the European state systems, favouring domestic concordance and citizens' support to the nation-building process. Welfare institutions have historically served this key political function also in federal systems, where social citizenship has been used as a tool to foster unity. In contrast, even though the EU devotes a consistent part of its (however limited) budget to social cohesion and inclusion programmes, it takes little credit for such efforts. Building on original survey data on public opinion collected in 2019 across ten EU countries, this article shows that, indeed, only a limited number of citizens are aware of the social role played by the EU in their local community. On the other hand, it demonstrates that citizens' aw2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Dec2025-04-21T18:23:02.461Z2025-04-05T17:12:16.952ZS-EPMC106540313802377010.1177/09589287231210727