On behalf of the European Commission, the Gesellschaft für Versicherungswissenschaft und -gestaltung (GVG) conducted a study analysing the social protection systems in the 13 candidate countries. The country studies, published in four volumes, analyse the pension system, the health care system, and the area of poverty and social exclusion, and discuss the challenges of joining the EU. The country reports, which were compiled by experts of the respective countries are widely structured in the same manner: Chapter 1 describes the economical, social and demographic conditions regarding the social protection and it’s development within the last 5 to 10 years. Chapter 2 gives a general overview of the social protection system. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 analyse the pension system, the poverty and social exclusion area and the healthcare system. Not only is there discussion regarding the current structures of the systems, but in all areas there are ongoing discussions regarding future challenges and the consequences of joining the EU.