ISSUE 37 MAY 2013
POLICY BRIEFING
9a DEAR EAPN MEMBERS, Since the beginning of 2013, Europe has continued its downward spiral, with increasing number of countries entering recession, generating increased poverty, under pressure of austerity measures and the fiscal compact. But in the last month, following rebellion against the ‘Troika programme arrangements’ in Cyprus and in Portugal, the negative reports from the IMF and other commentators, the Italian elections, some signs are showing of a tentative change in tack. President Barroso recently suggested that the “tide may be turning against austerity”, as France and Spain seek more time to bring down their deficits... “that while the policy is fundamentally right, it has reached its limits in many aspects, because a policy to be successful not only has to be properly designed. It has to have the minimum of political and social support”. Will this result in change of strategy? EAPN is working with its alliances across the EU to try to bring about this change. EAPN’s Task Force on the Troika is finalizing its assessment and key messages paper on the impact of the Troika arrangements, whilst EAPN continues to engage in the search for an alternative strategy to the current approach to the crisis, including engagement in the Alter Summit in Athens in 6-8 June. In February, under the auspices of the Irish Presidency, the Commission launched its long- awaited Social Investment Package, which was welcomed as an important attempt to reinforce the social dimension in Europe 2020, whilst raising some misgivings about its impact and use to undermine financing for social protection in the austerity context. EAPN issued a briefing and is discussing with its members a draft opinion and recommendations. The Commission’s first full debate with stakeholders will be held on the SIP will be held on the 2-3 May Irish Presidency conference with many EAPN members participating. Otherwise 2013 has been marked by unclear progress in several areas, with the discussions on the EU budget and Structural Funds moving painfully forward, with still no decision on the minimum shares for 25% of funding for ESF and 20% on poverty and social inclusion, marking the need for continued lobbying, particularly of Member States and Parliament. EAPN has continued its work to try to engage in the Europe 2020 process to try to influence the NRPs, and prepared in its EUIS meeting in February an assessment of the Country- specific Recommendations and their implementation, new proposals for alternative CSRS, as well as exchange on more pro-active initiatives. EAPN is working in a broader EU alliance to prepare alternative CSRs that will be presented in the EP in a cross-party hearing on 14th May. In April, EAPN/Eurochild launched the new Explainer on child poverty and well-being, developed by the joint EAPN/Eurochild Task Force, at a joint lobbying event and capacity building workshop with UNICEF, in Dublin on the 10/11 April. On the Campaigning front, EAPN’s support to EPSU’s European Citizens Initiative on the Right to Water has collected over 1 million signatures, but still needs more signatures in key countries. Best regards from Sian Jones, Policy Coordinator, with the Policy Team: Amana Ferro, Vincent Caron, Claire Champeix and Fintan Farrell; Tanya Basarab (Development Officer), Micheline Gerondal (Project Officer), and with Admin/communication support from Rebecca Lee and Leticia Gomez. NOTE: Policy Briefings/Updates give EAPN members the latest information on policy developments and EAPN Actions on each area of EAPN policy work. All EAPN documents, reports, position papers can be accessed on the EAPN website www.eapn.eu > Publications section, and in the EAPN Members’ Room.
CONTENTS
EUROPE 2020 AND ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE 4 EU Policy developments 4 EAPN activities 8 OMC ON SOCIAL PROTECTION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION / EUROPEAN PLATFORM AGAINST POVERTY 9 EU Policy developments 9 EAPN activities 17 ACTIVE INCLUSION 19 EU Policy developments 19 EAPN activities 20 EMPLOYMENT 21 EU Policy developments 21 EAPN activities 23 STRUCTURAL FUNDS 25 EU Policy developments 25 EAPN activities 27 EU PROGRAMME FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AND INNOVATION (EUPSCI) 28 EU Policy developments 28 EAPN activities 29 SERVICES OF GENERAL INTEREST 31 EU Policy developments 31 EAPN activities 32 EUROPEAN YEAR OF CITIZENS 2013 33 2 Latest EU developments 33 PARTICIPATION AND CIVIL DIALOGUE 37 Latest developments 37
3 EUROPE 2020 AND ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE Contact person in the secretariat: Sian Jones + 32 2 226 58 59 [email protected] All policy officers (Amana Ferro, Claire Champeix and Vincent Caron), contribute to this work, through the EU Inclusion Strategies group, coordinated by Sian Jones, policy coordinator.
EU Policy developments
Eurocrisis: January to April – latest developments
On the 1st January 2013, the new legislation on fiscal and microeconomic surveillance of MS by the EU came into force. Since then there have been contradictory moves towards greater pressure for austerity on deficits, with a softening of the austerity approach, to try to drive growth and jobs. This is partly to due to the growing consensus of the failure of austerity to deliver on public debt or growth, reinforcing recession, combined with increasingly well- targeted resistance to the EU plans, particularly in the countries under the Troika arrangements, particularly Cyprus and Portugal, and Spain, as well as the Italian elections rejecting the EU technocratic candidate – Mario Monti. The ETUC have forged an important new position calling for a social compact, which EAPN with the Social Platform will be trying to link with/support.
20th March 2013: Next Steps towards a deep and genuine Economic and Monetary Union The Commission presented 2 new Communications, following up on the Commission’s Blueprint last November, which reinforced budget surveillance in return for additional financial support, with some small potential for social impact assessment.
1) Communication on ex-ante coordination: sets out how the Commission would like to organize EU-level discussions on macro-economic ‘reforms’ before MS take their final decisions at national level. These would cover: competiveness, employment, market, tax systems, financial stability and sustainability, and would involve MS providing information on planned reforms, review by the Commission, and joint discussion on fall out on the Euro area. Failure to follow the advice could lead to CSRs and possible sanctions. Assessment of impact may include social impact. It will make proposals for further strengthening the social dimension of the European Semester, but without creating new procedures (footnote 9, p.6). 2) Communication on a Convergence and Competitiveness Instrument (CCI) sets out two new instruments (new contractual agreements with a solidarity financial mechanism) to back existing budgetary surveillance mechanisms (European Semester, Six and Two Pack). It would apply to MS facing deficit difficulties. Each MS would present a plan with reforms to address their CSRs, and which would become a contractual arrangement, and would then trigger financial incentives. The Commission proposes a new financial instrument that would not enter into the budget confines of the MAFF (Multi-annual Financial Framework). 4 See here.
The SPC will develop an open process for ex-ante coordination and policy discussion on major social policy reforms.
8 March 2013: SPC contribution to the Social Dimension of the EMU SPC contribution welcomed the new emphasis on the social dimension, and underlines the role of effective and sustainable social protection systems combining universal and targeted approaches that can cushion effects of recession. It underlines the role of the OMC to strengthen the integrated approach of the social dimension The ‘unacceptable increase of poverty and social exclusion and persistent high levels of unemployment shows the need to take better into account “worsening social situation… and emerging social imbalances” and calls for integrated impact assessments focussed on social and employment outcomes.
European Council Conclusions: 14/15 March 2013 back more flexible austerity Main Conclusions: - Increase focus on competiveness, growth and jobs following the 5 priorities of the Annual Growth Survey, with more flexibility in the mix on austerity – i.e. expenditure and revenue measures and short-term public investment measures to boost job creation especially for the young. - Single Market continues to be the main driver for growth and jobs - Stronger focus on shifting tax from labour and tackling tax evasion: “everybody must pay their taxes”, with new proposals for an energy tax, consolidated corporate tax, Saving Tax and follow up on Financial Transactions Tax. - Economic governance must be implemented, with the new legislation on fiscal and microeconomic surveillance (6 and 2 pack), applied from 1 Jan 2013. - Addressing unemployment is the most important social challenge. ESF will be used to make the Youth Employment Initiative operational by 1 Jan 2014. - Deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union – sees no great progress, as they recognize that any steps towards strengthening economic governance will need to be accompanied by further steps towards “stronger legitimacy and accountability” - The June European Council Summit, will focus on the Compact for Growth and Jobs, with a focus on creating jobs and fast growth – infrastructure, energy, resource efficiency, digital economy, research, innovation and SME’s. See here.
March 13th Tripartite Social Summit – Progress on Social Pillar of the EMU? Van Rompuy’s statement highlights the main outcomes of the summit, highlighting 4 priorities, with a renewed emphasis on social pillar. 1) Restore and keep financial stability in the Eurozone. 2) Restore sound and sustainable public finances through differentiated fiscal consolidation 3) Address the emergency situation and the root causes: Although initially this had a broader social focus “to tackle social divergences”, the final text gives priority to urgently fighting unemployment, especially youth. However Van Rompuy talks of the need to reduce social divergences through Europe 2020. He underlined that the poverty, employment and education target are important, and they should develop 5 better indicators that help them “take a better account of the social dimension of our economic choices and our reforms”. 4) Strengthen competiveness to achieve long-term growth, through single market. See here.
20 Feb 2013: Deal Struck with European Parliament on ‘Two Pack’ After months of wrangling, the EP backed the Commissions new powers, giving them extra oversight on member states’ budgets. Governments can ignore the Commission’s advice but risk legal action. The Two pack builds on the existing budget rules agreed at end of 2011, introducing swifter budget sanctions for MS breaking deficit and debt limits. The sticking point in the negotiations was the demand from EP for a Redemption Fund, to mutualize Eurozone debt over 60%, with cheaper interest rates through Eurozone funding. The Commission agreed to set up a panel to study its feasibility and report in March 2013.
23 April ETUC position: Calling for A Social Compact for Europe In June 2012, ETUC called for a Social Compact, to make clear the EU’s social dimension. They highlight the new developments on the Road Map for closer Economic and Financial Union has positive, but too restrictive, as the social dimension must trigger social progress for the whole EU. The key elements they call for are: collective bargaining and social dialogue, economic governance for sustainable growth and employment, economic and social justice, including redistributive tax. Their demands include support for a social minimum income in every MS on the basis of common European principles See here.
Europe 2020 latest
15th April: Deadline for presentations of the National Reform Programmes The NRPs will be put on-line on the Europe 2020 site. Access the map here for your country, and all related 2020 documents. See here.
12 Feb 2013: ECOFIN Council Conclusions on Annual Growth Survey Economic and Financial Ministers called for priorities to ‘sustain fiscal consolidation, and ensure debt sustainability, whilst resolutely addressing the underlying causes of the crisis, preparing the ground for robust sustainable economic growth and a notable reduction in employment’’ and confirms the priority focus of the European Semester: to implement macro-economic reform commitments highlighted in the CSRs.
Increased role of Social ministers/SPC The European Council on 18-19 October called for a stronger linkage between the Council formations in the European Semester. This is working to reinforce the role of the SPC. Recent briefing documents of the SPC highlight the increasing demand of the SPC to have more structured cooperation with employment but also economic and finance ministers and formations.
6 SPC/EMCO examination of the NRPs on 13-14 May The SPC and EMCO will examine the NRPs to develop knowledge on country-specific challenges to help them assess the Commissions’ proposals for CSRs. A specific focus will be given to monitoring the poverty target, in preparation for the mid-term review of the headline targets. The SPC will use the information of the 2013 NRPs to inform on progress. The secretariat will prepare a summary note on poverty reduction trajectories to discuss in May. Each MS will highlight the 3 main policy measures used in its national approach to achieve the target. This year, the SPC will have 2 examinations of the Commission’s proposals for CSRs (4-5 June and 12-13 June) and will take into account the “views of national social partners” particularly related to pensions/health care reform
26 April: Euroforum - Europe 2020 - Academics and Policymakers in Dialogue - KU Leuven panel discussions On 26 April academic researchers from KU Leuven presented policy papers on the Europe 2020 and problems related to economic governance and the Eurozone, with responses from policymakers, the European Commission and international experts. EAPN participated. The papers united in providing a strong challenge to the current EU policies on economic governance and austerity, and the interventions in the social sphere, undermining EU Treaty obligations. See here for the programme and the policy papers. More info: EN.
23 April: Set backs on EU Financial Transactions Tax The proposals to introduce an FTT through enhanced coordination in 11 countries aiming to raised up to 35 billion euro has received a set back, as Italy presses for major changes to remove sovereign bonds and the UK launches a legal challenge in the European Court of Justice (19th April). See more information here
Irish Presidency (January to July 1st) The Irish Presidency’s priorities are stability, jobs and growth. The representatives talk of a “people-centred recovery, designed to last’’ as the most urgent priority for the EU to stimulate growth leading to employment. The priorities will include finalizing negotiations on the MAFF, next steps on Europe 2020, and implementing the Single Market. A strong focus will be given to youth unemployment. Otherwise the main priorities on the social area, are social investment package, employment and follow up on homelessness. It’s been so far a low-profile Presidency with the Commission firmly in the driving seat. Many events in the social sphere are taking place in Belgium e.g. SIP conference on the 2-3 May. EAPN has been working positively with the Presidency on the People Experiencing Poverty Meeting and on a joint EAPN/UNICEF/Eurochild event on Child Poverty and Well-being in April. See below.
See Presidency website here. See Presidency Programme here
7 EAPN activities
EAPN Engagement in Europe 2020 and Economic Governance
10-11 February EUIS Meeting The EUIS meeting held a workshop to prepare EAPN work on the Country-specific Recommendations, involving an assessment of the CSRS, their implemenation, new developments and new alternative proposals on CSRs. 19 networks responded with 2 E0s.
March: EAPN Key Messages and Proposals for CSRs, with country fiches sent The synthesis of the CSR propsals were compiled, together with the country fiches and sent to the Commission, Council and EP as well as to a wide distribution of EU stakeholders. See here.
12 March – EAPN met with EC official in charge of the secretariat of the SPC Indicators Subgroup to exchange information on targets (in preparation of EAPN contribution to the 2014 Europe 2020 Mid Term Review)
30th April: Meeting with the Commission on EAPN proposals on CSRs On the 30th April, EAPN was invited to a meeting with the Commission to discuss the main policy messages and the CSR process. The Commission welcomed the EAPN proposals, which had been widely circulated to the Desk/Policy officers as well as to the cabinet of the Commissioner. Discussion took place on how to improve the transparency, and impact of stakeholders in the NRP/CSR process and to re-balance the European Semester with social goals. Contact Sian Jones for more information: [email protected]
14th May: Alternative Proposals of CSRs and Cross-Party Hearing: Adhoc EU Coalition on CSRs EAPN is coordinating a informal coalition on CSRs with European Women’s Lobby, and other European NGOs who have engaged their national members in proposing alternative CSRs: Eurochild, Eurodiaconia, Caritas, EASPD, Green Budget, with the backing of the Greens/EFA Group. Together they are preparing a combined proposal on alternative CSRs. The Group has invited the Commision to hold talks with it, and is holding a cross-party hearing, with the support of 4 political groups on the 14th May, to which Commissioner Rehn and Andor, together with representatives of the Council have been invited. See here for more details.
28 Jan: EAPN speaks at Green Group Capacity Building on the European Semester, in Parliament Week: For more information contact Sian Jones: [email protected]
What’s coming up - What members can do!
☺☺☺ April-May: EAPN members should be trying to get hold of their country’s NRP, and to read it and discuss it with their networks, to prepare to review its delivery on the poverty and other social targets for the EUIS meeting on the 10-11 May.
☺☺☺ May 10-11: EUIS meeting in Brussels. A day session will be held on reviewing the NRPs together. The group will work in small groups reviewing the macroeconomic, 8 employment, poverty policies as well as their engagement in the process, and to share first impressions. They will then have 2 weeks to complete their answers to a questionnaire prepared by a group from the EUIS. A synthesis report will be prepared, with key messages to be distributed to EU and national decision-makers by July. The printed report will be presented to the EAPN policy conference on 1st October. National members should present their own review and recommendations to their national governments, as part of their attempt to engage in the NRP process.
May-June: The Commission will publish its proposals of CSRs. Members should look at them, and make their comments directly to the SPC who will be discussing these proposals.
☺☺☺ ALTER SUMMIT: EAPN is participating in the Alter Summit in Athens. The alliance is currently preparing its Manifesto, to be adopted in June 2013 at a Summit in Athens, where 3-5000 people are expected. It will be registered with legal personality under Belgian law soon. See also the Facebook page of the alliance. Contact Amana Ferro for more information: [email protected]
OMC ON SOCIAL PROTECTION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION / EUROPEAN PLATFORM AGAINST POVERTY Contact person in the Secretariat: Sian Jones + 32 2 226 58 59 [email protected]
EAPN group in charge: New EU Inclusion Strategies Group (EUISG). The Steering Group for the EUISG is made up of: Liz Gosme (FEANTSA), Sonja Leemkuil (NL), Paul Ginnell (IE) and Sebastian Nastuta (RO)
EU Policy developments
Latest development
The main policy development in this area is the long-awaited launch of the Commission’s proposals on the Social Investment Package in February. EAPN has been discussing its view and preparing its opinion. A first stakeholder debate on the package will take place on the 2-3 May in Leuven. In terms of the EPAP: the first stakeholder meeting of the year will take place on the 7th June, to discuss the follow up on the SIP and the Annual Convention, and hopefully to clarify the relationship between the SIP, EPAP and the Social OMC.. The decision by the SPC and the Commission to replace the National Social Report with only an update questionnaire in 2013, which will not be published, further underlines this weakness.
9 EUROPEAN PLATFORM AGAINST POVERTY
February 15: Report of the Annual Convention of the European Platform Against Poverty The report of the Annual Convention was published. This provides an extensive description of all activities and summarizes messages from the 4 workshops:
4 workshops were held on:
1. Increasing the effectiveness of social protection: the case of health investment 2. The gender dimension of poverty 3. Best ways to secure active inclusion 4. The case for e-inclusion: How digital technologies can enable social inclusion
See website on EPAP for report and latest documents here including speeches and presentations.See key messages and conclusions here .
14th February: SOCIAL INVESTMENT PACKAGE Adopted! The long-awaited Commission’s Social Investment Package was finally adopted by the Commission. It consists of a main communication: Towards Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion, including implementing the European Social Fund: 2014-2020, the Commission’s Recommendation on Child Poverty: Investing in Children – breaking the cycle of disadvantage, and 8 Staff Working Documents (SWD), including the Implementation report on follow up to the Active Inclusion Recommendation. The main message of the SIP is that social policy should be seen as social investment, using budgets more efficiently to get employment/economic returns. The focus is primarily on strengthening people’s capacity to enter the labour market and society, through a life cycle approach. Although much of the language picks up EAPN demands, the good intentions are undermined by a predominant message about efficiency in times of austerity, providing recommendations to refocus social budgets towards ‘more activating and enabling’ services, and away from ‘passive social protection’, including more targeting, temporary payments and conditionality. (See EAPN Section for EAPN Actions)
See EAPN’s Briefing on the Member’s Room.
COMMISSION DOCUMENTS EAPN BRIEFING NOTES
General Page including Press Release and Frequently Asked Questions
Social investment package: Key facts and figures
Citizens' summary – Social Investment Package for Growth and Cohesion (other languages available) Main Communication: Towards Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion – including EAPN Briefing on Main SIP Communication implementing the European Social Fund 2014- 2020
10 Commission Recommendation: Investing in EAPN Briefing: Investing in Children: breaking Children – breaking the cycle of disadvantage the cycle of disadvantage (2013)
Staff Working Document: Evidence on EAPN Briefing: Evidence on Demographic and Demographic and Social Trends – Social Policies Social Trends: Social Policies Contribution to Contribution to Inclusion, Employment and the Inclusion, Employment and the Economy (2 Economy (Part 1) and (Part 2) volumes) Staff Working Document: Follow-up on the implementation by the Member States of the EAPN Briefing: Follow-up on the 2008 European Commission Recommendation on Implementation of the Active Inclusion active inclusion of people excluded from the Recommendation of 2008 – Towards a social labour market – towards a social investment investment approach approach Staff Working Document: 3 rd Biennial Report on EAPN Briefing: Biennial report on Social Social Services of General Interest Services of General Interest
Staff Working Document: Long-term care in ageing EAPN Briefing: Long-Term Care in Ageing societies Societies
Staff Working Document: Confronting EAPN Briefing: Confronting Homelessness in Homelessness in the European Union the European Union Staff working document: Investing in Health EAPN Briefing: Investing in Health Staff working document: Social investment EAPN Briefing: Social Investment through the through the European Social Fund European Social Fund
Key Publications on the SIP Investing in Social Europe: New publication presenting the package in a more accessible and understandable form. Social Agenda 33: European Commission magazine presenting latest developments. Access both here
Key Events on SIP During the months of March-April, the SIP has been discussed in several important conferences which EAPN has participated in including:
11 March: OSE/Event on the SIP with Lieve Fransen/DG Employment. 14 March: Discussion on SIP with Franck Vandenbroucke – Social Platform. 2-3 May: Irish Presidency conference - see in what’s coming up.
Contact the secretariat for more details.
11 SOCIAL OMC
February 2013: SPC Annual Report: Social Europe – current challenges and the way forward. The SPC published its Annual Report. Its key messages were presented to the EPSCO and will provide the basis for their inputs to Europe 2020 and the European Semester in 2013 See here: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=758&langId=en
Key Conclusions: The social situation in the EU is worsening: • The number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU accounts for nearly one-fourth of the population. • Current levels of poverty and social exclusion jeopardise the achievement of the EU 2020 headline target • There is a need to improve the quality of fiscal consolidation and the resilience of social protection systems with a new sense of urgency.
Social Trends to Watch In 2011, 119.6 million people in the EU, or 24.2% of the population, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared with 23.4% in 2010 and 23.5% in 2008. 17% of the EU27 population were at risk of income poverty. 8.8% of the population were severely materially deprived, indicating living conditions constrained by a lack of resources such as not being able to afford to pay their bills, keep their home adequately warm, or face essential unexpected expenses. 10% of the population aged 0-59 lived in households where the adults worked less than 20% of their total work potential during the past year. Income inequality has been widening in many Member States.
Four key EU "social trends to watch" established by the Social Protection Performance Monitor (see below) • Increase in poverty and social exclusion for the overall population (registered in 13 Member States) • Increase in the number of children living in poverty and social exclusion (registered in 10 Member States) • Increase in the working poor (registered in 12 Member States) • Increase in the poverty risk for the population living in quasi-jobless households (registered in 12 Member States)
Social Protection Performance Monitor In December 2011, the European Council emphasized the need for “complementing reinforced economic governance with improved monitoring of employment and social policies” (European Council Conclusions, 9 December 2011, EUCO 139/11). At its 19-20 April 2012 meeting, the SPC endorsed a conceptual proposal for a new instrument called the "social protection performance monitor" (SPPM) that should contribute to strengthening the monitoring of the social situation and the development of social protection policies in the EU. On the 4 October 2012 the main features of the SPPM were agreed. What the SSPM consists of: The SSPM uses the full portfolio of Social OMC indicators on social protection and social inclusion, covering the three pillars to assess progress across the EU. It will include also country profiles to look in-depth at progress towards Europe 2020 12 poverty and social exclusion targets. The aim is to identify common “trends to watch” (i.e. with at least 1/3 of MS with same trend) and ‘positive recent trends’. These will form the basis of the Key Messages to the EPSCO and subject of Peer Review exchange.
New publications on Social OMC Inside the Social OMC’s Learning Tools: How ‘Benchmarking Social Europe’ really worked : Peter Lelie and Bart Vanhercke (2013), OSE Paper Series, Research Paper No. 10, February 2013, 61p. This Research Paper provides insights into the inner workings of the Social OMC. It clarifies how its benchmarking tools have been used in support of the social dimension of the EU and provides practical illustrations of how each of the instruments of the OMC toolkit works. More info... EN | FR
MINIMUM INCOME
EAPN’s European Minimum Income Network Project (EMIN) Kicks off! The MI network project coordinated by EAPN finally kicked off In January, holding its first Steering Group meeting on 27 February, followed by a 2nd on the 22nd April. The European Minimum Income Network (EMIN) is a two year project (2013-2014) funded by the European Commission, that has the aim of building consensus to take the necessary steps towards the progressive realisation of adequate and accessible minimum income schemes in EU Member States, in line with the European Commission’s Active Inclusion Recommendation of 2008, the Europe 2020 strategy and in the context of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion.
Main Objectives: • Analyse current trends and obstacles and propose improvements regarding coverage, adequacy and (non) take‐up of Minimum Income Schemes, through the reports of National Minimum Income Networks enriched by two thematic approaches related to adequacy of old age Minimum Income Schemes and coverage and (non) take‐up by homeless people. • Present and exchange on ‘good’ and ‘unsatisfactory’ practices and promote learning and transfer of knowledge. • Raise awareness on the EU current frameworks, including the 1992 Council Recommendation and the 2008 Active Inclusion Recommendation. • Build consensus on the necessary steps towards the progressive realisation of adequate and accessible Minimum Income Schemes in Member States as well as Norway, Iceland, Serbia and FYROM and support the implementation of these steps. • Contribute to the identification of common EU level definitions and criteria for adequate Minimum Income Schemes, and the potential for a strengthened EU framework for cooperation in this field.
Main Activities: • Establishment and Launch of the European Minimum Income Network: with the participation of a wide range of diverse stakeholders. • Establishment of Five National Minimum Income Networks in Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Italy and Hungary. 13 • Reports on Analysis of Minimum Income Schemes in the 5 identified Countries: based on a common framework and drawing on existing research these reports • Thematic work on adequacy of minimum old age income Schemes, led by AGE Platform in France, Belgium and Poland. • Thematic work on take up by vulnerable groups, in particular homeless people, led by FEANTSA, in Italy, France, Hungary, Romania, Ireland, United Kingdom, Finland and Poland • Two Peer Review sessions, aimed at exchanging findings and identifying key learning points gathered in the reports in the 5 countries identified. • European level Conference (Year 1), to analysise and disseminate the key learning points from the work in the five countries and the two thematic approaches. • Reports on Analysis of Minimum Income Schemes in remaining 26 countries: based on the experience of developing these reports in the 5 identified countries. • Support for implementation of steps towards the Progressive realisation of adequate Minimum Income Schemes in the 5 identified countries. • Thirty-one national level Conferences to help build consensus towards adequate and accessible Minimum Income Schemes in each of these countries. • EU level Conference (Year 2) to present suggestions for enhancing EU level coordination in the field of Minimum Income Schemes, including the proposal for common EU level definition and criteria for adequate Minimum Income Schemes.
Key partners: • AGE Platform Europe, FEANTSA European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless, Belgian Public Administration, Public Planning Service Social Integration, Anti Poverty Policy and Social Economy Social Integration, ANSA Agence Nouvelle des Solidarités Actives, ETUI European Trade Union Institute, OSE Observatoire Social Européen, SIRG Social Inclusion Regional Group, • National Minimum Income Networks (NMIN) in 5 Countries led in Belgium by Belgian Anti Poverty Network, in Italy, CILAP/EAPN Italy, in Ireland, EAPN Ireland, in Denmark EAPN Denmark, and in Hungary by EAPN Hungary. • In the second year of the project all EAPN Networks will be involved.
Contacts: • EAPN: Fintan Farrell: [email protected] • EMIN project policy coordinator: Anne Van Lancker: [email protected]
The project’s website will soon be launched. In the meantime see project summary here See here
14 Feb 2013: Minimum Income in the SIP Key Recommendations regarding Minimum Income can be found in the SIP/ Active Inclusion Implementation report. See Active Inclusion Section and SIP above.
These include: - Establishing reference budgets for efficient/adequate income support taking into account local, regional and national needs, reflecting progress in the NRPs. The
14 Commission will develop a methodology for reference budgets in 2013 and monitor adequacy of income support using reference budgets once developed with MS.
April-May: New EESC Opinion of Minimum Income and indicators 29th April: EAPN participated in the Study group meeting with Anne Van Lancker, the EMIN project coordinator, to the 1st discussion of the draft opinion. This opinion represents an amalgamation of 2 proposals (one on minimum income and one on poverty indicators). The co-rapporteurs are Giorgios Dassis (EL) & Mr Seamus Boland (IE). EAPN Ireland and the EAPn secretariat has been involved in discussions on the indicators part. The initiative on Minimum Income, has come, rather surprisingly from the workers group in the EESC (Group II), and aims to send a strong message on the need for urgent action on minimum income, and for the EU to make progress on an EU framework directive. 28th May: EAPN will speak in the hearing on the legal base for a framework directive, drawing on EAPN’s work in 2010 in this area. For more information contact: Sian Jones: [email protected]
14 Feb: Child Poverty and Well-being Recommendation- in the SIP The Commission Recommendation: Investing in Children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage, was finally incorporated into the SIP package. The Recommendation builds on the consensus on the 3 pillar approach developed through the OMC Light year, then the Belgian Presidency Conference in 2010, and the SPC Opinion. These are: 1) Access to adequate resources: access to labour market and adequate income support 2) Access to affordable, quality services 3) Right to participate. Governance, implementation and monitoring through Europe 2020 and a partnership approach is supported. It calls for evidence-based approaches and full use of EU instruments. The Recommendation is well-written and comprehensive, confirming most of EAPN key demands. However, it fails to set the fight against child poverty within an overarching strategy to fight poverty. Child well-being is also rather invisible, although, the ‘most successful strategies are signposted as policies improving “child well-being’’. The recommendation however fails to set out a concrete road for implementation as requestions by the Adhoc Alliance that EAPN is a member.
See here: Commission Recommendation: Investing in Children – breaking the cycle of disadvantage (2013) and EAPN Briefing (Opinion out soon)
4-5 February/Dublin Castle – Coface/Irish Presidency conference/ Vulnerable Families – what can the EU do? See here
See EAPN Section for EAPN/UNICEF/EUROCHILD Event: Taking Action to fight child poverty and promote well-being: 10-11th April/Dublin.
SOCIAL INNOVATION AND SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION 15 15th February call closed: Social Policy Experimentation The new call for social experimentation was released in October 2012. The deadline was the 15th of February 2012. The call is targeted at public authorities, although NGOs can form partnerships. See here for details.
PEER REVIEWS/KNOWLEDGE BANK AND NETWORKS 2013 There is no current public information available about Peer Reviews in 2013. Moreover, the information on them becomes increasingly difficult to access. Having lost the dedicated website page to Peer Reviews and Independent Experts, both are now subsumed within an area on the Europa website called Knowledge Bank and networks, giving priority to a data base on Social Investment showing the efficiency and effectiveness of welfare states from a social investment approach. See here.
INDEPENDENT EXPERTS REPORTS ON SOCIAL INCLUSION The most recent reports published by the Experts include: • 08/03/2013 - Assessment of the implementation of the European Commission Recommendation on active inclusion - A study of national policies • 19/12/2012 - Assessment of progress towards the Europe 2020 social inclusion objectives • 31/01/2012 - 2011 assessment of social inclusion policy developments in the EU • 22/12/2011 - Promoting the social inclusion of Roma
Other reports Liberal Neo-Welfarism: new perspectives for the European Social Model Maurizio Ferrera (2013), OSE Paper Series, Opinion Paper No. 14, February 2013. This Opinion paper describes the shifts of the dominant paradigm in European political discourse, the ascent and decline of neo-liberalism, the break with the adoption of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the attempt to develop a new perspective: “Liberal Neo- Welfarism”. More info... EN | FR
8th January 2013: 2nd Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) This 2nd edition was launched at a public seminar on the 8th January, which EAPN attended. This edition analyses the social and employment trends in the context of escalating debt crises and cuts in public spending. This year it gives a focus to long-term unemployment, the functioning of social protection systems – with a particular emphasis on distributional and design aspects. Finally, the Review looks at the impact of wage developments and the problem of skill mismatches as well. It concludes that a fair and equitable structural adjustment agenda is needed. This publication is available in printed format in English. All the graphs and tables included in this report can be downloaded both in gif and excel format by accessing the individual chapters.
EAPN activities 16 EUISG Meeting: 1 and 2 February 2013 The meeting developed members’ proposals on the CSRs and agreed its advocacy strategy and work programme on Europe 2020 and Cohesion Policy for 2013-14. The group discussed the latest information on the SIP, and strategy. The group also agreed 3 new policy task forces for 2013-14: 1) Decent Work 2) Migration 3) Guidelines for stakeholder participation in Europe 2020. The proposals were further scoped with the proposers, and requests for nominations for 1 and 3 launched on the 30th of April. The closing date is the 20th May. The three policy sub-groups held their 2nd meetings. See the relevant pages (Active Inclusion, Employment and Structural Funds). A follow up discussion was carried out to confirm betters ways of working at the national or organization level. See members room for more details.
8th February Informal Alliance on Child Poverty/Well-being Sends Roadmap to Commission Andor The informal alliance involving EAPN, Caritas, Eurochild, Coface, Picum, ESN, Eurodiaconia finalized its paper on the implementation of the Child Poverty Recommendation through a partnership approach which was sent in a letter to Commissioner Andor. The SIP Recommendation appears to have picked up some of these messages, with a strong reference to the partnership approach, but not on the detail of the Road Map for implementation requested. The Alliance will continue to meet to plan follow up. Read Letter and Road Map here
10-11th May: EAPN/UNICEF/Eurochild Event in Dublin: Taking Action to fight child poverty and promote well-being! Launch of EAPN/Eurochild Child Poverty Explainer
In Dublin, on 10-11 April 2013, EAPN, Eurochild and UNICEF organised a political roundtable and advocacy seminar “Taking action to fight child poverty and to promote child well-being”. This was also the occasion for EAPN and Eurochild to present their new explainer on child poverty and well-being in the EU, the result of the EAPN/Eurochild Task Force and for Unicef to present their Report Card 11 on child well-being. This was followed by an interactive workshop to support mobilisation of national members around the implementation of the Commission’s Recommendation and effective integrated strategies at national level. EAPN members from Ireland, Belgium, Spain, UK, Germany, Portugal, Estonia and Sweden participated. See event here with programme and presentations.
Access the EAPN/Eurochild Explainer here: Towards Child well-being – Explainer on Child Poverty. The Explainer is to be translated into Estonian, Slovakian and Spanish... Watch this space.
See above policy sections for EAPN Action and Project on Minimum Income
22nd February: EAPN gives workshop at Green European Foundation on Minimum Income Contact Sian Jones: [email protected] for more information.
EAPN Action on the SIP
17 EAPN has continued to be very active on lobbying to influence the Social Investment Package (SIP) in 2013. Presenting its final key messages in a Press Release (See here). Following the publication of the SIP, a quick response was given in Press Release: Promising Rhetoric, but will it reduce poverty? See here. A full Briefing was prepared to build member’s capacity to respond and use the package (See Briefing here) and a draft opinion discussed first in the EXCO meeting in March, and through e-mail exchange with a deadline for inputs from the EUIS on the 30th April. The opinion will be finalized by Mid May, to be sent to the EPSCO and the Council formations in May/June.
EAPN’s initial reaction is mixed: on the one hand welcoming the good intentions to justify social investment to ensure economic, social and employment returns. Members welcome the Recommendation on Child Poverty and several of the Staff Working Documents: on homelessness and housing exclusion, and the Active Inclusion Implementation Report, including proposals on reference budgets to define adequacy of minimum income, Structural Funds, Health and Care. However, the lack of overall coherence with the EPAP and the Social OMC, and between the documents is a concern, and that the SIP will replace both, and become the only EU strategy. More worrying is that in the current dominant context of economic governance and austerity, the overriding message will be to support social investment in activation/enabling policies to the detriment of social protection, undermining delivery on poverty reduction and the target.
2-4 May: EAPN speaks and participates in Irish Presidency SIP Conference in Leuven Sergio Aires, EAPN President will speak in the workshop on stakeholder engagement, and members of the secretariat and national and EO members will also participate for this first stakeholder exchange. See here for more details
For more information contact Sian Jones at [email protected]
What members can do
☺ ☺ ☺ 10-11 May: EUIS meeting: Members will discuss the final version of the SIP opinion and follow up actions – how to react/use the SIP at national level, as well as Europe 2020 actions to work for progress on the poverty and social targets (see section above and for lobbying action at national level on NRPs and CSRs). We will discuss follow up to the mobilisation work on child poverty, following the TF explainer, event and work in alliance. A special session will be held on using the Structural Funds Tool Kit, to help lobby at national level to influence Operational Programmes, and access to funds for NGOs. The Troika Task Force (2012 TF) will present its latest draft and key messages for discussion. The sub-groups will hold their 3rd meetings and discuss follow up actions.
ACTIVE INCLUSION
18 Main contact persons in the secretariat: Sian Jones + 32 2 226 58 59 [email protected] Amana Ferro + 32 2 226 58 60 [email protected] EAPN Working Groups concerned: EU Inclusion Strategies Group / Active Inclusion Subgroup
EU Policy developments
Latest developments
20 February – The European Commission released the Social Investment Package, as DG Employment’s main social inclusion input to Europe 2020, to the poverty and other social targets. The Package is made up of a main Communication, accompanied by a Recommendation on Child Poverty and Well Being, and 8 Staff Working Documents. One of these latter is the previously-announced study dedicated to the implementation of the Active Inclusion Recommendation in the Member States: Follow-up on the Implementation of the Active Inclusion Recommendation of 2008 – Towards a social investment approach. However, its status as Staff Working Document means it is an informative paper, a stock taking exercise, not a renewed political commitment, endorsed by the Council. For more information about the Social Investment Package in general, see the Social Inclusion section). The EAPN Secretariat prepared a full Briefing for its members on the contents on the Package, and you can find an overview of the Active Inclusion report on page 19. EAPN’s EU Inclusion Strategies Group (EU ISG) is currently preparing a full response to the Package, whose final version will be discussed and adopted at the EU ISG’s meeting on May 10th-11th.
11 March – The Network of Independent Experts on Social Protection have reviewed the implementation of the 2008 Active Inclusion Recommendation in Member States, and presented practical and wide-ranging suggestions as to how to make it more effective to build a more inclusive and more social Europe. The country reports (fiches) were finalised in the summer of 2012, and were in particular intended to contribute to the Commission’s assessment of the Recommendation’s implementation (published by the Commission as part of its “Social Investment Package”). You can consult the country fiches, as well as the synthesis report, here.
EUROCITIES – NLAO project: In 2013, the Cities for Active Inclusion partnership will continue their research activities and look at the people most excluded from the labour market. The nine cities involved will look at specific target groups who are most excluded and ways in which they are seeking to tackle this through for example preventative approaches or social return on investment. Over the period of March and October, each city will host a national event informing national, regional and local stakeholders of the main EU developments on Active Inclusion and present the key findings and good practices identified in their research activities. As part of the partnership’s mutual learning activities, the cities of Barcelona and Birmingham will host a study visit. The first visit, which will take place in Barcelona on June 7th, will look at social innovation, whilst the city of Birmingham will look at preventative approaches to active inclusion. On 25 September, a high level event, summarising the partnership’s key findings and the policy recommendations, will take place in the Committee
19 of the Regions (more info here). For more information, regularly check the project website, or contact Susana Forjan at Eurocities.
ADEQUATE MINIMUM INCOME See Minimum Income section in the Social OMC above for latest information.
ACCESS TO SERVICES See Services section below.
INCLUSIVE LABOUR MARKETS See Employment section below.
EAPN activities
Latest EAPN activities
5-6th December – As announced in the previous Policy Brief, EAPN participated with a presentation by Dr. Bernadette MacMahon (EAPN Ireland and Vincent Partnership for Social Justice) to the workshop on Active Inclusion in the framework of the Annual Convention of the Platform Against poverty and Social Exclusion. You can access the presentation, as well as other inputs to the workshop and conclusion, at this link.
1-2 February – EAPN’s EU Inclusion Strategies Group has held its meeting in Brussels, which included the second meeting of the Active Inclusion subgroup. You can follow the activity of this group on the Members’ Room (username: eapn; password: 1515). The AI sub-group exchanged on realities on the ground and agreed to prioritize several areas of work: 1) Instruments to support the implementation of Active Inclusion at national level - including the preparation of a short summary arguments document on Active Inclusion to use at national level. - template letter to insist on follow-up by MS. 2) Supporting Active Inclusion of Youth – first dicussions to develop an EAPN position/output 3) Developing EAPN’s approach to defending public services. 4) Support to the European Minimum Income Network project work and new developments on minimum income in the Social Investment Package etc.
Coming up
☺ ☺ ☺ National networks are invited to join EAPN’s campaign for Adequate Minimum Income schemes – www.adequateincome.eu
☺☺☺ Follow up with your own Governments the implementation at the national level of the Active Inclusion Recommendation, including through the NRPs and NSRs and make inputs to your SPC and EMCO representatives, as well as feeding back to the Secretariat. See work developed with the sub-group above.
20 EAPN has been actively lobbying on the need for full implementation of the Active Inclusion Recommendation. This includes specific proposals on a Framework Directive on Minimum Income, reinforced EU framework guaranteeing access to affordable quality Services of General Interest, and supporting pathway approaches into decent employment, as part of its campaign on Europe 2020. For more detailed information about the three pillars of the Active Inclusion strategy, please consult the Social Inclusion section (for minimum income), the Employment section, and the Services section, and the sub-group on Active Inclusion for the Integrated approach.
EMPLOYMENT Contact person in the Secretariat: Amana Ferro + 32 2 226 58 60 [email protected] EAPN group in charge: EU Inclusion Strategies Group / Employment Subgroup
EU Policy developments
Latest developments
7 January – Eurofound published a report entitled “Effectiveness of policy measures to increase the employment participation of young people”. The report revisits the effectiveness of a set of selected policy measures to reintegrate young people into the labour market or education in 9 Member States: Austria, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and UK. The report is the last and final output of the Eurofound project Youth employment: Challenges and solutions for higher participation of young people in the labour market. Download the report here.
8 January – The European Commission released the annual Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2012 report. After five years of economic crisis and the return of a recession in 2012, unemployment is hitting new peaks not seen for almost twenty years, household incomes have declined and the risk of poverty or exclusion is on the rise, especially in Member States in Southern and Eastern Europe. The impact of the crisis on the social situation has now become more acute as the initial protective effects of lower tax receipts and higher levels of spending on social benefits (so-called "automatic stabilisers") have weakened. A new divide is emerging between countries that seem trapped in a downward spiral of falling output, fast rising unemployment and eroding disposable incomes and those that have so far shown good or at least some resilience. The latter tend to have better-functioning labour markets and more robust welfare systems. You can consult the report here.
18 January 2013 – Under the Mutual Learning Programme (MLP) of the European Employment Strategy, the synthesis report Designing effective measures to tackle unemployment and ensure sustainable labour market integration was released, which summarises the main findings from the events and activities organised under the MLP in 2012. You can access it here. 21 7 February – Informal meeting of Ministers for Employment, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO). More details and documents here.
28 February – Meeting of Ministers for Employment, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO). More details and documents here and here.
11-12 March – Informal meeting of the Employment Committee (EMCO) in Dublin. More details and documents here.
21-22 March – A peer review on Public Employment Services was organised in Denmark part of 'PES to PES Dialogue', the European Commission’s mutual learning support programme for public employment services (PESs). The peer review aimed at identifying and exploring good practice in the field of Performance Management in PES. Please see more details, including the background documents, here.
26 March – The Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review: March 2013 is out. The document provides an overview of developments in the European labour market and the social situation in the EU, based on the latest available data. Divergence continues to increase across Member States, translating into persistently growing labour market and social challenges, marked by ever higher unemployment at EU level. Employment has been trending down again since mid-2011, with positive developments only noticeable in part- time work. Unemployment rose further in January 2013, especially in the euro area, to 26.2 million in the EU as a whole, accounting for 10.8 % of the active population, and concerns nearly one in four economically active young people. This edition highlights the effects recent government spending cuts have had on the employment and social situation in a number of Member States. Fiscal tightening affected employment through both direct (public sector employment) and indirect (aggregate demand) channels. Changes to the tax and benefits systems and cuts in public sector wages have led to significant reductions in the level of real household incomes, putting a heavy strain on the living standards of low income households. This issue also features a supplement on Demographic Trends. Read an overview of results and consult the full document here .
11 April – The European Commission launches new report on Industrial Relations. The report focusses on how the outcomes of European social dialogue can make a real difference to the working lives of Europeans, for example on improved health and safety at work and working conditions; industrial relations in the public sector (public administration, education and healthcare) in light of the government spending cuts in many Member States; the state of social dialogue in Central and Eastern Europe; the involvement of social partners in unemployment and pension system reforms and in the transition towards an economy that is more sustainable and less dependent on fossil fuels. You can consult it here.
17 April – The Council of the European Union agreed a Recommendation establishing youth guarantees. Member States are invited to ensure that every young person receives a good quality offer of education or employment within four months of graduation or loss of job. Involvement of youth representatives is explicitly mentioned. This should be done
22 with ESF support, starting preferably from 2014 onwards. You can consult the full text here. Irish Presidency of the European Union For a full list of the Irish Presidency events, as well as additional information, please consult the Presidency website here.
Coming up
30 May – The AGE Platform and the European Commission are organising a conference dedicated to Senior Entrepreneurs and Youth Employment, to take place in Brussels, at the European Economic and Social Committee. Please see more details here.
11-13 June – The high-level conference “Building an Inclusive Europe through Supported Employment will take place in Dublin, under the auspices of the Irish Presidency. You can see more details here.
20-21 June – Meeting of Ministers for Employment, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) in Luxemburg. More details and documents here.
20-21 June – Meeting of the Heads of Public Employment Services (HOPES), in Dublin, to discuss how to best address labour market issues.
EAPN activities
Latest EAPN activities
27-28 November – EAPN attended the annual Employment Forum, which takes place in Brussels. See all details on the event website, here.
5-6th December – A reduced version of the documentary produced by EAPN on positive and negative activation practices in the EU, and entitled Pathways to Work. Unlocking a Door to Active Inclusion has been screened in the framework of the workshop on Active Inclusion, organized as part of the Annual Convention of the Platform Against poverty and Social Exclusion, in Brussels.
22 January – The first meeting of the newly-established Social Platform Employment Working Party took place. The subgroup met for half a day, and decided priorities for the upcoming year and ways of feeding into the Platform’s already established Social Policy Working Group. The second meeting of the subgroup will take place on May 22nd.
28 January / 19 April – The European Association for Paritarian Institutions (AEIP), with headquarters in Brussels, has launched a Task Force on Employment, which has already met twice, and where EAPN was invited (as the only NGO so far). This Task Force brings together private and public employment services, EU agencies such as Eurofound, OSHA, public authorities (including the European Council for Municipalities and Regions) and other employment actors. At the last meeting of the Task Force, EAPN made a presentation about the role of NGOs in contributing to Inclusive Labour Markets. For 23 more information about the work of this Task Force and opportunities for EAPN, please contact the Secretariat.
1-2 February – EAPN’s EU Inclusion Strategies Group held its second meeting in Brussels in January, and the Employment Subgroup also met for half a day on the occasion. According to the Subgroup’s agenda, the In Work Poverty paper was endorsed and finalised, and the Quality Work Explainer is currently underway, to be ready in October. The next meeting of the Subgroup will take place, in the framework of the EU ISG meeting, on May 11 th. Please see more information about the work of this Subgroup in the Members’ Room.
13 March – EAPN attended the launch of the Manifesto on Social Rights, endorsed by 450 labour lawyers from across the EU, in protest against austerity policies and the systematic attacks on social dialogue and labour law provisions. You can consult the text of the Manifesto, available in 18 languages, by clicking here (bottom of the webpage).
9 April – EAPN was invited to speak, alongside the European Youth Forum and other organisations, in a public hearing organised in the European Parliament by Nikos Chrysogelos MEP (Greens & EFA, Greece), about youth unemployment and youth active inclusion, particularly in times of crisis.
23 April – EAPN participated at the launch and discussion of Benchmarking Working Europe 2013, an annual publication of the European Trade Union Institute, analysing recent developments in the social and employment policy of the European Union. This year’s edition is focussed on the divergent trends within the European Union. The publication can be consulted and downloaded here.
26 April – EAPN has been invited to participate in the bi-annual strategic dialogue of PARES – the initiative of the European Commission bringing together public, private and non-profit employment services. The strategic dialogues provide a framework for stakeholder to meet and discuss relevant issues, and the first one this year will be dedicated to “Drafting a Memorandum of Understanding on a national level”. You can read more about the PARES initiative here, and more about this year’s first strategic dialogue here.
Regarding EAPN’s work on the European Employment Strategy and the NRP process, please consult the Europe 2020 section of this Policy Brief.
Coming up
☺☺☺ Please activate / initiate contact with your national representative(s) in the EMCO. The role of the EMCO has increased exponentially in the assessment of the NRPs. Both for acquiring information as well as for inputting in the process, contacts with the EMCO are crucial. Please consult the latest list of EMCO members here.
☺☺☺ Members of the EAPN EU ISG Employment Subgroup: The first draft of the Quality Work Explainer will be circulated over the summer – please give your input, so we can finalise this product.
24 STRUCTURAL FUNDS Contact person in the secretariat: Vincent Caron + 32 2 226 58 54 [email protected] EAPN group in charge: EUIS: Structural Funds sub-group.
EU Policy developments
Latest developments
Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020
7-8 February 2013: The European Council agreed on an austerity budget for 2014-2020 - More than 73 € billion cut : the first time that the EU Budget decreases - 11 € billion cut for Structural Funds (325 against 336 EUR Billion) - ESF is seen as catch-all Fund to fund both Youth Guarantee schemes (for 3 EUR Billion) and the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) (for 2,5 EUR Billion) The good elements: - The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived is secured at the Commission’s level (i.e. 2,5 EUR Billion - There is a reference to the minimum budget for ESF even if a margin for maneuver if left to Member States (“the necessary support to human capital development will be ensured through an adequate share of the ESF in cohesion policy”.)
For more information, please see the Council’s conclusions.
13 March 2013: The European Parliament rejected in its Resolution the European Council conclusions of 7/8 February concerning the Multiannual Financial Framework. The main blocking points are the following: - The problem of payment shortfalls from 2012 regarding EU Programmes (like the ESF, Erasmus) should be addressed before concluding the MFF negotiations to avoid rolling over a deficit into the new MFF.
- A review of MFF spending is demanded to give the opportunity to the newly-elected Parliament and Commission to influence the budgets voted by the previous legislators
- A strengthening of the own resources to fund the EU Budget with all EU expenditures going through the budget.
25 Structural Funds
1 February 2013 – Emer Costello’s Report on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived is released. This Report incorporates most of the joint proposals for amendement made by EAPN together with Eurodiaconia, Red Cross EU Office, Caritas Europa and FEANTSA. For more information, please see here.
20 February 2013 – The Social Investment Package gives an important role to the use of EU Funds. The SIP aims indeed at better coordinating and boosting EU Funds to deliver on inclusive growth (and especially all the 3 social targets of Europe 2020) through a combined use of what is called ESI (European Structural Funds and Investment funds embracing the ESF, ERDF, PROGRESS 2007-2013, EUPSCI and FEAD) to invest in a wide spectrum of social fields: employment, human capital, social services, social inclusion, childcare, health, housing and education infrastructure as well as food and material deprivation. The particular role of the ESF in supporting the SIP priorities is further elaborated in the Commission Staff Working Document on Social Investment through the ESF. An operational policy guidance document has also been announced for Mid-2013 to help Member States to make the best use of Structural Funds in backing the SIP priorities.
12 March 2013 – The Commission proposed amendments to the future General Regulation and the ESF Regulation (2014-2020) to allow Member States to better target young persons (aged 15-24) not in employment, education or training in the Union’s regions with a youth unemployment rate in 2012 at above 25% by integrating them into the labour market as follow up the Youth Employment Initiative proposed by the 7-8 February European Council (with a 6 EUR Billion budget for the period 2014-2020).
14 March 2013 – DG REGIO and EMPL have produced together a Guide to Social Innovation describing how pre-existing EU initiatives (linked with Structural Funds or not), are working towards this end, and provides good practices of relevant co-funded projects placed in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy. This document also provides practical tips to public authorities on how to foster and enable social innovation.
15 April 2013 - The European Commission has just published a mid-term evaluation of the results of 'Additionality' in EU Cohesion Policy programmes for 2007-13. This Report shows the importance of this, particularly in the current economic climate, when national budgets are under scrutiny and resources scarce. But, This Report only summarises the results of the mid-term verification carried out for the period 2007-2010 (before the peak period of the crisis). And it does not give any details on how social inclusion investments through Structural Funds have been impacted by austerity measures taken by EU Member States.
18 April 2013 - The Commission published its 2013 Strategic Report on the implementation of 2007-2013 Cohesion Policy programmes pulls together available information from Member States, up to end-2011 in most cases. This Strategic Report has been completed on the basis of the national Reports sent by the EU 27 Member States by the end of 2012 and is aimed at assessing the progress on the delivery on the agreed Europe 2020 targets. The positive elements on social inclusion are the following:
26 - A number of national reports underline that cohesion policy has been instrumental in sustaining public investment in social inclusion - Contrary to some of thematic priorities, social inclusion has not been affected by thematic reprogramming in the period 2007-2012. The negative elements: - The outreach of vulnerable groups is still low with ESF-funded activities (only 18%) - 13 Member States have reported slow project selection by end 2011 in the field of social inclusion - Social inclusion remains at a very low level: only 3,3% of the total spending for all Funds. For more information, please see here
Coming up
By Mid-2013: publication of the operational guidance document on the use of Structural Funds to support the delivery on the Social Investment Package priorities at national level.
July: vote in Plenary on the Structural Funds’ Regulations (CPR, ERDF, ESF).
End of 2013: Interinstitutionnal agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework; Adoption of the Partnership Agreements.
EAPN activities
Late December 2012: the EAPN Mag n°137 Poverty reduction: will Member States break their promises? The contribution of Structural Funds to poverty reduction at risk is out (available in EN, FR, IT, DE, PL, ES, Macedonian). For more information, please see here.
9 January: EAPN together with Eurodiaconia, Red Cross EU Office, Caritas Europa met the EP Rapporteur, Emer Costello, on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived.
22 January: EAPN together with Eurodiaconia, Red Cross EU Office, Caritas Europa and FEANTSA disseminated their joint proposals for amendment to feed the drafting of the EP Report on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived. For more information, please ask the Secretariat.
23 January: On behalf of EAPN, Fintan Farrell spoke at the EMPL Hearing on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived to present EAPN’s view on this new proposal. For more information, please ask the Secretariat.
March: EAPN published a Briefing on the Social Investment Package. An analysis of the Commission’s Staff Working Document on Social Investment through the European Social Fund is provided. For more information, please see here.
27 11 April: Fatima Vaiga (EAPN Portugal) made a speech during the workshop co-organised by EAPN and Eurochild on the use of Structural Funds to tackle child poverty and promote child well-being. All the presentations are available here.
Coming up
Beginning of May: - re-launch of the joint campaign EU Money for Poverty Reduction NOW! till the final adoption of the SF Regulations late June/ beginning of July;
- finalization of the first draft version of the mapping document summarizing national consultation processes and NNs involvement/ actions.
Sept-Oct 2013: EAPN event showcasing good practices of Social Inclusion
☺☺☺ National Networks are invited to: To contribute to the finalization of the leaflet on Social Inclusion and Structural Funds by sending good practices of socially integrated projects funded by SF. To get in touch with their national authorities/Managing Authorities and their ESF or ERDF Desk Officer to influence the drafting of the partnership agreements and Operational Programmes. To send updates on the situation at national level regarding the consultation processes around the partnership agreements and OPs and their engagement/ actions to help the Secretariat completing the mapping document. To keep on being active with the Campaign EU Money for Poverty Reduction NOW! by organising activities (meetings, sending letters to national officials and contact their national MEPs seating in the REGI Ctee) around the campaign.
EU PROGRAMME FOR SOCIAL CHANGE AND INNOVATION (EUPSCI) Contact person in the secretariat: Tanya Basarab + 32 2 226 58 53 [email protected]
EAPN group in charge: EU Inclusion Strategies Group.
EU Policy developments
EUPSCI is the successor to Progress programme, absorbing Progress, EURES and European Microfinance Facility. The Programme will include €958.19 million, of which €574million will be allocated to the Progress axis. This is the main source of funding for the EU level networks on social inclusion (Including EAPN) and for supporting EU work on poverty and social exclusion. The objectives of the new EUPSCI Programme follow a horizontal logic 28 across all the axis and this means that social protection and social inclusion is not as visible as it was in PROGRESS Programme. Nor is it clear how priorities would be determined under each and what budget would be allocated. See the Commission’s proposal of the new EUPSCI Programme.
What is different: Progress axis includes similar activities as the current programme (analysis, mutual learning and grants) and will have a specific budget for social innovation and experimentation, i.e. testing of innovative policies on a small scale, with the aim that the most successful ones can be up-scaled, including with ESF support. Out of the EUR 574 million proposed for Progress in the 2014-2020 period, EUR 97 million will be allocated to experimental projects. As the objectives are horizontal across all three strands, there is less visibility for social protection and social inclusion and combating poverty.
Objectives of the Progress axis: Apart from the general objectives of the programme, each axis will follow a set of objectives which are specific to their field. Progress axis will support: development and dissemination of comparative analytical knowledge on employment and social policy; - roughly 20% of the annual funding, information sharing and mutual learning on employment and social policy to assist member states and the other participating countries in developing their policies and in implementing EU law; - roughly 25-50% of the annual funding, testing social and labour market policy reforms (through financial support to policy- makers innovation, building the capacity of the main actors to design and implement social experimentation and making this knowledge available); - 17% of the annual funding, the capacity of the Union and national organisations to develop, promote and implement the EU employment and social policy and legislation. – 20% of the annual funding.
EAPN activities
EAPN has drafted amendment proposals and sent them to SPC members as well as key rapporteurs from the different institutions (primarily through EUISG). EAPN participated in hearings with shadow rapporteur Karima Delli and of the European Economic and Social Committee. EAPN has built common positions together with other Social Platform members and has had most of the proposals accepted by the EP Rapporteur Jutta Steinruck. These related primarily to the governance (including NGOs and social partners in the management of the programme, as well as amending the objectives to explicitly include combating poverty, social inclusion and social protection, among others. The Rapporteur also included the proposal for a 4th axis on Youth Unemployment and if that is created, then the recommendation is to keep the Progress funding to the proposed spending. All documents related to the EP Report can be found here.
29 EAPN has met David Dion from the European Commission with other Social Platform members to see his opinion on the Parliament Report and what would be the next steps. The Commission has held 3 informal trilogues with the Parliament and the Council primarily focusing on EURES and the Microfinance pillars. The latest EPSCO conclusions state that EUPSCI is part of the Cohesion Policy package 2014-2020 and the final budget will depend on the results of negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework.
What you can do
☺☺☺ Keep highlighting, in your meetings with Ministries, the importance of Progress under EUPSCI to delivering on the poverty objectives under Europe 2020 and for supporting all the EU cooperation in combating poverty and social exclusion, as well as cooperation on social protection.
30 SERVICES OF GENERAL INTEREST Contact person in the secretariat: Vincent Caron + 32 2 226 58 54 [email protected]
EAPN group in charge: EU Inclusion Strategies Group.
EU Policy developments
21 February – The IMCO Committee of the European Parliament voted on the 2 Reports (The one from Marc Tarabella, S&D, on the modernisation of public procurement rules and the one from Philippe Juvin, EPP, on concessions) to open up the negotiations with the Council and the European Commission in the framework of the trialogue negotiation process. For more information, please see here.
20 February 2013 – The Commission launched the “Social Investment Package: towards Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion”, including the 3rd BIENNAL REPORT ON SERVICES OF GENERAL INTEREST (Staff Working Document) This report is the third of a series of Commission Reports on SSGIs, part of a Commission strategy of clarification on SSGIs. These reports are tools aimed at ensuring monitoring of the area, giving an account of significant development, clarification of existing rules, and fostering dialogue with stakeholders. The general idea underpinning the work of the Commission in this area is that a good implementation of EU rules will increase the effectiveness, transparency and efficiency of public spending. “Thanks to the EU rules, investing in social services will deliver a greater return for people living in Europe”. The document doesn’t bring any novelty but sums up 3 recent developments in the area: the new State Aid package (Almunia Package) tabled in 2012, the Commission proposal on a Directive to modernize public procurement rules and the publication of an updated Guide on the application of the EU rules to SGEI. Positively, the document highlights how the Commission is promoting a “proportionate and diversified approach” to allow specific treatment to social services. On a more negative side, it is concerning that this document doesn’t refer to the reality of the dramatic consequences of cuts in public services budgets as well as the disengagement of States and the negative impact on quality and accessibility of liberalization and deregulation on SGIs. For more information, please see here.
15 February 2013 – The European Commission published its Guide to the application of the European Union rules on state aid, public procurement and internal market to services of general interest (SGEI), and in particular to social services of general interests (SSGI).
October 2012 – The Commission launched a Consultation on review of existing legislation on VAT reduced rates open till beginning of 2013, in the aim of submitting a legislative proposal in 2014. The general approach is to limit reduced VAT rates when they are likely to interfere with the good functioning of the Internal Market. The Platform will lobby to insure
31 that reduced VAT rate could be kept for services. Also at stake is the possibility to have reduced rate on labour intensive areas. A few members of the Social Platform answered this consultation, notably Cecodhas (social housing, the European Disability Forum, the EU Blind Union).
EAPN activities
19 March – EAPN attended an event organised by Eurodiaconia on “investing in social services despite austerity”.
29 January – EAPN attended the meeting of the Social Platfrom Services Working Group – Main issues discussed and decision made where the followings: Social Platform project of a Social Pact to be promoted at the occasion of the European Parliament elections campaign in 2014 → in such a document we should demand a transversal legislative EU tool likely to recognize and protect social services and demand enough funding for social services; Annual Growth Survey →discussion on messages to feed in a letter to the Spring Council from the Social Policy Working Group; Update on EU Commission activities on social services; Presentation of a comparative study strated by the Platform on key principles and concepts common to SGIs → to be pursued; Update on the Commission Consultation on reduced VAT; Update on Public Procurment Directive → The Social Platfrom to pursued lobbying action engaged; Discussion the on definition of social enterprise in the EP Proposals on the EU porgram for Social Change an Innovation and on social entrepreneurship funds; Information sharing session on social innovation with a representative of DG ENTREPRISE.
Coming up
10-11 May – Meeting of the EUISG - A discussion on what services is planned in the Active Inclusion sub-group. (Main concerns – Main common points we want to fight for). 15 May – EAPN will attend a Conference on organised by the S&D Group on Access to Quality long term care: a right for all. 16 May – EAPN will attend a Conference organised by the European Public Health Alliance on the “Economic Crisi an access to medicine in Europe”. 23 May – EAPN will participate in the Social Platfrom Services Working Group .
32 EUROPEAN YEAR OF CITIZENS 2013 Contact person in the secretariat: Tanya Basarab, + 32 2 226 58 53 [email protected] EAPN group in charge: EXCO. Latest EU developments
The European Commission declared 2013 as the European Year of Citizen. DG Communication is primarily in charge of the year and the total budget is 1 million for all the activities around the year and around 750 thousand for preparatory actions. Here’s the link to the Commission website dedicated to the Year 2013: http://europa.eu/citizens-2013/en/home Vision for the Year: The better the men and women of Europe understand their rights as EU citizens, the more informed the decisions they can take in their personal lives, and the more vibrant democratic life in Europe can be at all levels. Objectives: European Year of Citizens 2013 will provide an opportunity for people throughout Europe to: learn about the rights and opportunities open to them thanks to EU citizenship – particularly their right to live and work anywhere in the EU, stimulate debate about the obstacles that prevent people from fully using these rights and generate specific proposals for addressing them, encourage people to participate in civic fora on EU policies and issues. The Year's activities will be organised as much as possible at the grass-roots level, by citizens and civil society organisations themselves. Activities organised by the European Commission: a centrally managed communication campaign with a multilingual website, communication toolbox, press kit and promotional material, opening & closing conferences for the Year and thematic conferences, participation in national, regional and local events across the EU. Target groups: EU citizens Policy makers at all levels of government Civil society organisations. Coordinators in the EU countries: EU representation offices: Europe Direct Centres. National Implementing Bodies (NIBs) will be established in every member state.
All relevant documents related to the year can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/european-year-of-citizens-2013/index_en.htm.
33 Institutional events for the year
On 23-24 January EAPN participated in the EESC Open Space event in the context of the European Year of Citizens: Your Europe 2013. EAPN’s engagement with all the EY 2013 focuses on democratising policy-making and engagement with citizens On 22-23 January EAPN participated in the First EU-Level Thematic Conference of the European Year of Citizens 2013: Making the Most of the European Year of Citizens in Brussels. EAPN spoke in a panel about engagement and coordination work carried out during the EU Year 2010 for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. More information on the event can be found here: http://europa.eu/citizens-2013/en/news/first-eu-level- thematic-conference-european-year-citizens-2013 at all levels in the EU. The event was organised using open space methodology. The report can be found here: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.events-and-activities-youreurope2013-results
On 6 March, EAPN participated in the Civil Society Day 2013: Bringing economy, solidarity and democracy together, organised by the EESC. The event brought together diverse Civil Society organisations around the objectives of the EU Year of Citizens. It addressed questions on active and participatory citizenship for a more legitimate Europe; making local civil society heard and citizens getting ownership of the European project. It discussed the results of a flash Eurobarometer on the perceptions of Europeans and their commitments to being engaged to building Europe together (voting, citizen activism, civil society and NGO engagement were among the topics studied). The report of the event can be found here: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_373_en.pdf
The European Commission published in February the Flash Eurobarometer 373: Europeans’ Engagement in Participatory Democracy. The report includes information on the role of NGOs and on citizens’ engagement with decision-making as well as the role of the whole civil society. While overall seven out of 10 respondents agree that NGOs can influence decision-making at local and national levels, in five EU countries, a relative majority of the population do not see the need for NGOs. In terms of channels of citizens influencing policies, the report highlights petitions and the increased number of online petition activism. To see the full report and a comparative perception in your country, click here: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_373_en.pdf
EAPN’s involvement with the year through the European Year for Citizens 2013 Alliance EAPN joined the EYCA 2013 (European Year for Citizens Alliance) in June 2012. The Alliance is an informal coordination of over 50 EU NGO platforms and civil society actors. It is being coordinated at the EU level by the European Civic Forum. Considering that the main objective of Commission's proposal to designate 2013 as the “European Year of Citizens” is to raise awareness on Union citizens’ rights, with a view to facilitating the exercise of the right of free movement and residence, we call on MEPs: to broaden the focus of the European Year 2013 and give European citizenship its full meaning and scope by taking into account the new prospects opened up by article 11 of the treaty on the European Union for citizens’ participation in the democratic life of the European Union to ensure that the preparation and implementation of the European Year 2013 is given appropriate financial means, since the current budget proposal of one million 34 euro would only allow for top-down communication measures and not for tangible actions and does not foresee co-financing for citizens’ and civil society organisations’ initiatives to call on the Commission to closely involve civil society organisations in the preparation and the implementation of the 2013 European Year, since they have a key role to play in carrying forward the European project so that it fully meets the expectations of its citizens. The Alliance has also developed a Manifesto for the Year and is encouraging its members to contribute to the EU Citizenship Report 2013 – the main expected political outcome of the year. The Manifesto demands that EU Citizenship is not only viewed through the mobility lens, but that the EU views Democratic Citizenship as: a lifetime process participation in elections civil dialogue participation local governance, and social citizenship. EAPN’s engagement with the Year and with the Alliance EYCA 2013 will contribute to developing new partnerships and to bringing EAPN’s messages around good governance, democracy (both participative and representative – note that 2014 is the year of next EP elections), recognition of social rights and direct participation of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion in public life.
EYCA 2013 has established 3 working groups and EAPN aims to contribute to at least 2 of those: 1. Relevance of participatory citizenship and civil dialogue in the context of the crisis; 2. Economic, social, political citizenship: a coherent whole 3. Towards an inclusive citizenship for the European Union’s residents. All the information on EYCA 2013 can be found here: http://ey2013- alliance.eu/index.html. EAPN is represented in all three working groups.
Upcoming events and how you can get engaged
During 2013 the Commission together with the Member States will organise town hall thematic debates on the future of Europe in different cities across the EU. There would usually be a Commissioner involved and someone from the national public administration in these debates. This is a chance for EAPN members to bring our messages across to decision-makers.
☺☺☺ EAPN members are encouraged to find out when and where such debates would happen in your countries and to attend these debates, where possible. The Commission has not put a full schedule of these debates, however, you can follow their website and you can find out from your government representative on the year: http://ec.europa.eu/european- debate/index_en.htm
35 EYCA 2013 members have initiated the establishment of National NGO Alliances on the year 2013, which would dialogue with the National Implementing Bodies and bring national messages to the EYCA 2013 European meetings. ☺☺☺ EAPN members are encouraged to join these National Alliances and to bring EAPN’s messages into the themes of the actions. EAPN Networks have joined Alliances in at least 4 countries. The coordinators of the EYCA 2013 have received the contacts of the EAPN Executive Committee members and you will be contacted when such initiatives are formed.
May 2013 – launching the European Citizens Report, a biennial report of the EC focusing primarily on the free movement of people.
8-10 July 2013 – European Year of Citizens Alliance is organising a European event in Croatia, on the occasion of Croatia becoming a full EU member state. EAPN will, on this occasion set up a meeting with anti poverty NGOs in Zagreb to talk about establishing a national anti poverty network.
September 2013 - Event planned between the European Commission Visiting Centre and EYCA 2013.
December 2013 - European Commission High Visibility Event for the Lithuanian Presidency, Closing the Year and final plenary of EYCA 2013.
Funding for the year
As the budget for the year is extremely small, we are not aware of funding available for the year, however, the reality at Member State level might be different in some countries. The main European Union funding programme that will support actions under European Year of Citizens is the Europe for Citizens Programme. To plan applications, please read the programme guide http://ec.europa.eu/citizenship/about-the-europe-for-citizens- programme/index_en.htm
For more information about European Year of Citizens 2013, please contact [email protected]
36 PARTICIPATION AND CIVIL DIALOGUE Contact person in the secretariat: Tanya Basarab, + 32 2 226 58 53 [email protected]
EAPN group in charge: Executive Committee, subgroup on Democracy and Participation and EU Inclusion Strategies Group.
During the March Executive Committee, the Subgroup decided to launch an evaluation of participation with past delegates to the EU meetings of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion. The subgroup also identified the need to analyse various models of engaging people experiencing poverty in shaping the public opinion on solidarity and on social rights in Europe. This work will continue in future meetings and the Exco members should involve the National Coordinators in this process.
Much of the EAPN effort over the past several months has been focusing on securing that the EU Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty and Social Exclusion takes place in 2013 and beyond. Actions were taken directly towards the decision-makers involved and in advance of some of the main EU level meetings. See below details on the meeting.
Latest developments
18-20 June 2013, The 12th EU Meeting of People experiencing Poverty will take place on 18, 19 and 20 June, on the Esplanade of the EU Parliament.
Preparation for the 2013 Meeting The 2013 meeting will be organized by EAPN with support from the European Commission, the Irish Ministry of Social Protection and the EAPN Fund. The meeting will be held in a temporarily constructed Conference Centre on the Esplanade directly in front of the European Parliament. Support for the use of the Esplanade has been received from the European Parliament’s Committee for Employment and Social Affairs. It is very important that the meetings continue to be seen as an important part of the EU Inclusion Strategy and contributes to the Social OMC and the Europe 2020 Flagship initiative “Platform against Poverty” and the recent Commissions Communication on the Social Investment Package
Objectives for the 2013 Meeting To reinforce the visibility of the fight against poverty and social exclusion in Europe To recognise the courage, commitment and expertise that people experiencing poverty bring to the fight against poverty and to foster commitment to developing the participation of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion. To make visible the links between the different levels; local, national and European and the need for coherence between the different levels.
37 Content of the exchanges at the 2013 Meeting The recent Commission Communication ‘Towards social Investment for Growth and Jobs’ which was released as part of its Social Investment package calls on members states to fully implement the Recommendation on Active Inclusion (2008) integrating its three pillars, adequate income support, inclusive labour markets and enabling services. The Communication commits the Commission to develop in 2013 a common methodology for reference budgets as part of the monitoring of adequacy of income supports.
The exchanges at the 2013 meeting will contribute to this objective by 1) exchanging on what should be part of an essential basket of goods and services to be used in reference budgets, 2) exchanging on what are the current developments for individuals and communities in terms of the three pillars of the Active Inclusion Recommendation and 3) Exchanging on practices that people experiencing poverty and their organisations are developing to fight poverty and exclusion and what is helping and hindering the implementation
For more information contact Micheline Gerondal: [email protected]
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