Does South European welfare have any specificity in dealing with the challenges and constraints shaping the evolution of social protection in the European Union? Is there any particular Mediterranean response to welfare developments in the EU different from the Corporatist, Liberal or Social-democratic regimes? Are the characteristics of the model of social protection in Southern Europe likely to endure in the near future or are they in a process of deep transformation? This article carries out an overview of societal transformations and welfare reform in South European countries related to three main areas of analysis: Socio-economic; Politico-institutional and Cultural-axiological. By discussing continuity and change concerning these analytical dimensions, the article aims at identifying thematic areas and key issues for future research which could test the resilience – or otherwise – of welfare arrangements in Southern Europe.