GENERAL REPORT

Social Progress Watch 2015

This report presents the main findings and general recommendations of the 2015 SOLIDAR Social Progress Watch. Based on an extensive consultation with SOLIDAR members and partners, this initiative evaluates progress towards a more social Europe.This year’s report concludes that the European and national policy response to the economic crisis continues to erode the social safeguards that are part of the European social model and its national variations. Rather than ensuring this model’s capacity for upward social convergence, the European Semester’s one-sided austerity measures are found to have a negative impact on our social benchmarks. As such, SOLIDAR advo- cates strengthening the social dimension of the Semester and safe- guarding its capacity for upward social convergence.

Published in November 2015 © SOLIDAR SOCIAL PROGRESS WATCH 2015

This report presents the main findings and posed by the European Commission and adop- general recommendations of the 2015 SOLI- ted by the Council of the European Union ( ‘the DAR Social Progress Watch (SPWI). Based on an Council’). 1 extensive consultation with SOLIDAR members and partners, this initiative evaluates the social In particular, this monitoring effort and our dimension of the 2014 European Semester. Spe- network’s findings and recommendations are cifically, this assessment is based on 14 country shaped by six social benchmarks (cf. Box 1). These studies, where national policies are evaluated benchmarks represent the six fronts on which against six social benchmarks. This year’s report SOLIDAR believes progress should be made in concludes that the European and national poli- order to strengthen upward social convergence in cy response to the economic crisis continues to Europe. erode the social safeguards that are part of the European social model and its national varia- • Fighting unemployment through the promo- tions. Rather than ensuring this model’s capacity tion of inclusive and quality employment and for upward social convergence, the Semester’s decent work as well as fair mobility one-sided austerity measures are found to have • Improving access to healthcare and quality a negative impact on our social benchmarks. As social services for all as well as quality em- such, SOLIDAR advocates strengthening the so- ployment in the healthcare and social sector cial dimension of the Semester and safeguarding • Promoting access to and participation in its capacity for upward social convergence. Our lifelong learning with a particular focus on recently launched Social Progress Lab is set to non-formal and informal learning develop alternative progressive reforms to make • Strengthening active citizenship and vo- this a reality. lunteering for social cohesion • Fighting discrimination and social exclusion 1. INTRODUCTION • Promoting, reinforcing, and supporting social The SPWI is a monitoring tool used by civil society economy organisations from across the European Union (EU), allowing them to speak up together against Box 1 – The social benchmarks of the SOLIDAR Social Pro- Europe’s growing inequalities and the high social gress Watch Initiative cost of the economic crisis. SOLIDAR brings these voices to Brussels to advocate their recommen- This year’s report is published against the back- dations on their behalf and to give voice to their ground of a slow and disappointingly weak call to put upward social convergence back at the recovery of the European labour market. The heart of EU and national policies. Commission’s Annual Growth Survey 2015 reports that the ‘[…] ongoing social crisis and the slow re- Through the SPWI, SOLIDAR every year monitors covery [are] hampering efforts to reduce the high 2 the commitment and progress made by national levels of unemployment.’ While the EU average governments towards a more social and cohesive shows a slight improvement, the unemployment Europe within the framework of the European rate in most countries remains high at best and Semester, i.e. the economic governance process unsustainably high at worst. More troublesome set up by the European Commission (hereinafter still is the even higher youth unemployment rate, ‘the Commission’) to foster growth and prevent and ever-increasing long term unemployment. excessive macro-economic imbalances. This 1 For an overview of the 2014 governance cycle of the Euro- pean Semester and all relevant documents, including the CSRs, please year’s findings and recommendations are based see: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/making-it-happen/country-speci- on the 2014 cycle of the Semester, notably the fic-recommendations/2014/index_en.htm (retrieved August 28, 2015). Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) pro- 2 European Commission (2014). Annual Growth Survey 2015, COM (2014) 902 final, 28 November 2014, p. 3.

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2.1. Fighting unemployment Moreover, the number of European citizens that The European labour market continues to be find themselves at risk of poverty and social ex- plagued by high levels of unemployment, despite clusion continues to grow. showing a slight improvement on average (i.e. 10.2% EU28 in 2014, down from the record high The ongoing social crisis confronts the European of 10.9% in 2013). It varies widely between EU Institutions and national governments with the Member States (e.g. 5.0% in Germany and 5.6% in Austria up to as high as 24.5% in Spain and effects of their policy response to the economic 4 crisis, which has so far focused on one-sided aus- 26.5% in Greece). Moreover, unemployment is terity measures. These policies have also eroded becoming entrenched as the long term unem- the social safeguards offered by the European ployment rate continues its gradual increase and social model. The structural reforms pursued takes up an ever larger share of the total rate, des- within the European Semester have been about pite similarly ranging from high (19.5% in Greece achieving budgetary and fiscal consolidation, and 12.9% in Spain) to low (2.2% in Germany and the United Kingdom and 1.5% in Austria) across while the social dimension has either been absent 5 or forced to take a backseat to other priorities. the continent. While the Juncker Commission has recently given earning a ‘social triple A’ as its ambition, it remains The country studies of the 2015 SOLIDAR SPWI to be seen whether this ambition will materialise provide a tangible insight in the relation between in a meaningful shift in policy.3 this state of play and the policy response within the 2014 European Semester. The high levels of Against this background, this year’s SPWI report unemployment continue to trigger a one-sided presents a timely evaluation of the extent to policy response aimed at more flexible labour which the social dimension is found in the de- market rules and wage setting, despite inter- sign and implementation of the 2014 European national institutions such as the International Semester. Firstly, this report presents the main Labour Office (ILO Office) clearly stating ‘[…] that reducing protection for workers does not lower findings and overall trends found in this year’s 6 country studies. Secondly, it presents SOLIDAR’s unemployment.’ For example, the governments general recommendations for each of our so- of Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, the Nether- cial benchmarks and it introduces our recently lands, and Slovakia are in the process of develo- launched Social Progress Lab. ping and implementing comprehensive measures and reforms on these lines, thereby doing away 2. MAIN FINDINGS AND OVERALL TRENDS with social safeguards and further amplifying This year’s SPWI report first presents the main fin- the downward pressure on social standards and dings and the overall trends found in the country protection in their labour markets. studies. The country studies firstly provide infor- mation about the national state of play of social, In addition to the high levels of (long term) employment, and educational development, unemployment, the country studies of the 2015 secondly they present the main structural obsta- SOLIDAR SPWI show that a broad spectrum of cles to the improvement of upward social conver- 4 Eurostat (2015, July 31). Unemployment rate by sex and age gence, and thirdly they propose specific recom- groups – annual average. Retrieved August 4, 2015, from http://ec.eu- ropa.eu/eurostat. mendations on how to overcome those obstacles 5 Eurostat (2015, July 9). Long-term unemployment by sex and how to implement the necessary policy - annual average. Retrieved August 4, 2015, from http://ec.europa.eu/ reforms to stimulate social progress, inclusive and eurostat. 6 International Labour Office (2015). World Employment sustainable growth, and wellbeing. Social Outlook: The Changing Nature of Jobs. Geneva: ILO Office, p. 15. 3 European Commission (2015). Completing Europe’s Econo- mic and Monetary Union, 22 June 2015, p. 8.

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employment model. The SOLIDAR EU Strategy vulnerable groups is being pushed to the fringes Groups in Austria, France, Italy, and Spain ex- of the European labour market. First and fore- plicitly highlight the rising phenomenon of the most, the youth unemployment rate remains so-called ‘working poor’ in their countries, while worryingly high throughout the Union, although our Strategy Groups in Spain and the United it too varies wildly and ranges from high (52.4% Kingdom more generally highlight the increase of in Greece and 53.2% in Spain) to low (7.7% in inequality and the decrease of job quality which Germany and 10.3% in Austria).7 Furthermore, the can be consequence of the rise of non-standard disadvantaged position of women, older workers, or a-typical employment contracts. Moreover, people with disabilities, and people from a mi- disadvantaged groups in the labour market are grant background are highlighted by our Strategy disproportionately affected by the negative ef- Groups, regardless of whether they operate in fects of the changing nature of jobs. The clearest EU Member States with strong labour markets example is provided by our EU Strategy Group in (e.g. Austria, the Netherlands, and the United the United Kingdom, which highlights a dispro- Kingdom) or weak labour markets (e.g. Bulgaria, portionately high 34% of workers on so-called Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, ‘zero-hours contract’ (i.e. uncertain employment Serbia, and Spain). contracts wherein the number of working hours is not specified) are young people aged 16 to 24, The social crisis in the European labour market creating an additional challenge on top of their is made worse by rising inequalities partially high unemployment rate. caused by ‘the changing nature of jobs’. The ILO Office’s 2015 World Employment and Social 2.2. Improving access to healthcare and qua- Outlook report ‘[…] reveals a shift away from the lity social services for all standard employment model, in which workers The country studies of the 2015 SOLIDAR SPWI earn wages and salaries in a dependent employ- highlight the negative impact of European aus- ment relationship vis-à-vis their employers, and terity measures on the access to and quality of have stable jobs and work full time.’8 Similarly, health and social services. Rather than investing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and in these services as a prerequisite for upward so- Development (OECD) in a recent report adds cial convergence and inclusive economic growth, that job creation in its member countries since the CSRs of the 2014 European Semester evaluate the 1990s has predominantly relied on so-called them from a budgetary and fiscal perspective, i.e. ‘non-standard work’ contracts.9 Instead, workers urging EU Member States to increase the cost-ef- in developed economies increasingly find them- fectiveness of their health and social services. Our selves forced into low quality jobs with limited EU Strategy Groups in Austria, Bulgaria, Croa- social safeguards and future prospects. tia, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom indi- The country studies of the 2015 SOLIDAR SPWI cate a one-sided focus on the cost-effectiveness provide tangible insights for this trend, finding of health and social services. In each case, it is ample evidence of increasing inequality between reported that this creates a downward pressure workers within and workers outside the standard on the access to, and quality of, these services, 7 Eurostat (2015, July 31). Unemployment rate by sex and age thereby straining their capacity to act as social groups – annual average. Retrieved August 4, 2015, from http://ec.eu- safeguards. ropa.eu/eurostat. 8 International Labour Office (2015). World Employment Social Outlook: The Changing Nature of Jobs. Geneva: ILO Office, p. The downward pressure on health and social 13. services is especially troublesome in countries 9 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that faced a slow and disappointingly weak eco- (2015). In It Together: Why Less Inequality Benefits All. Paris: OECD.

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vulnerable for emerging issues that threaten the nomic recovery following the crisis. SOLIDAR EU smooth function of their labour markets. Ger- Strategy Groups operating in Croatia, France, Italy, many, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom and Spain report that these services have pro- are scaling down public spending on access to, ven themselves to be effective social safeguards and participation in, lifelong learning, despite against the worst effects of the economic crisis. projected skill shortages that are set to hinder the As such, the one-sided austerity measures of the labour supply in the near future. Furthermore, in 2014 European Semester are eroding the social Germany, the decrease in public spending com- safeguards that have shielded many from poverty pounds the problems of the long term unem- and social exclusion. Nevertheless, existing sys- ployed, who are not sufficiently supported by tems of social protection do not always target the German labour market policies. German polices most vulnerable groups. For example, the Italian focus on the short term unemployed who are not and Spanish experiences show that high public in need of additional education and training. expenditure on other priorities (e.g. pensions) does not always leave sufficient room to effec- 2.4. Strengthening active citizenship and tively target people at risk of poverty and social volunteering for social cohesion exclusion as a result of the crisis. The country studies of the 2015 SOLIDAR SPWI reveal that the work of volunteers is increasingly relied on as an alternative to maintain access to, 2.3. Promoting access to and participation in and the quality of, public services. As public ins- lifelong learning titutions are confronted with the 2014 European The 2015 SOLIDAR SPWI country studies highlight Semester’s focus on budgetary and fiscal conso- the limited capacity of, and decreasing invest- lidation, countries with a strong tradition of vo- ment in, lifelong learning. On average, participa- lunteering have started using this as a resource to tion in lifelong learning gradually increased in offset the negative effects of austerity measures Europe since the start of the crisis (10.7% EU28 in on public services. Our EU Strategy Groups in Ger- 2014, up from 9.1% in 2010).10 However, the coun- many, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom tries that would benefit most from this increase report that their governments are developing are either lagging behind in their provision or plans to use volunteers to provide certain social limiting their public spending on lifelong lear- and health services that will no longer be offered ning. The SOLIDAR EU Strategy Groups in Croatia, by public institutions. In France, youth voluntee- France, Greece, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia ring is being considered as a tool to prevent report limited participation in lifelong learning. the radicalisation of at-risk youth, especially in When combined with a difficult school-to-work the wake of the attack against Charlie Hebdo in transition (Croatia and Slovakia) and/or a high January 2015. level of early school leaving (France, Hungary, and Romania), this creates a situation where a group The SOLIDAR EU Strategy Groups are critical of of young people enters the labour market wit- this trend and its underlying, austerity-driven hout sufficient skills and either does not seek, or motivation. Firstly, it is repeatedly pointed out does not find, additional education and training that the volatile nature of volunteering makes it to improve their situation further on in life. an unstable resource to maintain access to and the quality of public services. This issue is further Meanwhile, other countries are decreasing their compounded by the outdated or vague legal investment in lifelong learning, making them frameworks that exist in several countries, notably Austria, Bulgaria, and Italy, which do not clear- 10 Eurostat (2015, March 2). Lifelong learning. Retrieved ly spell out the rights and duties of volunteers. August 10, 2015, from http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat.

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employment model against those outside of it, Secondly, given the austerity-driven motivation the ILO Office shows that this ‘[…] change in the of governments to start relying on the work of employment relationship may be fuelling income volunteers, the expanding role of volunteers inequalities [, given that] temporary and informal as service providers is not backed by increased workers, part-time workers and unpaid family (financial) support and, as such, does little to workers, many of whom are women, are also disproportionally affected by poverty and social counter its volatile capacity to provide health and 11 social services. exclusion.’

2.5. Fighting discrimination and social exclu- 2.6. Promoting, reinforcing, and supporting sion social economy The country studies of the 2015 SOLIDAR SPWI The country studies of the 2015 SOLIDAR SPWI provide an overview of the high number of highlight the unique nature of the social eco- people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the nomy as a third sector in the European economy Union, including specific groups that are prone and, moreover, its progressive role in upward so- to discrimination. Our EU Strategy Groups in cial convergence. This sector has generally been Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, more successful in withstanding the downward the Netherlands, Romania, Serbia, Spain, and pressure on social standards and has managed the United Kingdom report on increasingly large to create sustainable, inclusive and quality jobs groups in society that face these risks as their throughout the crisis. For example, in Spain, 45% countries find themselves unable to leave behind of the jobs created in this sector have gone to the quagmire of slow economy recovery and people younger than 40, thereby helping in the growing social inequality. Among a diverse set of fight against the country’s high youth unemploy- vulnerable groups, the discrimination faced by ment rate. Moreover, 74.4% of contracts in the people with a migrant background and the Roma social economy are permanent and 80% are full- population (specifically in eastern Member States) time, thereby countering the growing inequality is especially pronounced in the country studies. in the Spanish labour market.

It emerged from consultation with the natio- The SOLIDAR EU Strategy Groups are critical of nal EU Strategy groups in the framework of the attempts by their respective governments to re- SOLIDAR SPWI 2015 that in practice many legal cast this sector in the same mould as the private and practical barriers often prevent migrants sector, i.e. introduce competition and other mar- and refugees from enjoying their rights. This also ket-driven mechanisms through new regulations. represents an obstacle to their integration into As Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, and their ‘host’ societies. In addition, several violations Romania are all in the process of developing and of the fundamental rights of migrants and re- implementing new legal frameworks for the so- fugees along the Western Balkan route have been cial economy, our Strategy Groups point out that recorded by SOLIDAR members. the value-driven nature of this sector sets it apart, notably the strong focus on co-operation, inclu- The fight against discrimination and social exclu- sivity, trust, democratic legitimacy, equality and sion is a complex issue that can only be dealt with reinvestment of benefits. Regulating the social effectively by coordinated action on all the other and the private sector on equal footing endan- social benchmarks found in the 2015 SOLIDAR gers the sustainability and quality of the services SPWI. For example, referring to the changing na- the social economy provides to people in need. 11 International Labour Office (2015). World Employment ture of jobs that is pitting workers in the standard Social Outlook: The Changing Nature of Jobs. Geneva: ILO Office, pp. 13-14.

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it is not encouraging to find that the Presidents of the European institutions believe that the road 3. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS towards a political union first and foremost runs Following an overview of the main findings and through a strengthened economic, financial, and overall trends, this year’s SPWI report presents SO- fiscal union, while a stronger social union is left by LIDAR’s general recommendations to strengthen the wayside. the social dimension of the European Semes- ter for each of our benchmarks. By monitoring In response, SOLIDAR has expanded the SPWI the design and implementation of the Country by launching our Social Progress Lab to develop Specific Recommendations (CSRs) included in the alternatives to the European Semester’s (the EU’s 2014 Semester, our European network of CSOs annual cycle of economic policy guidance and (Civil Society Organisations) has found that the surveillance) one-sided approach. Our Lab is a policy response to the economic crisis continues space to discuss an alternative, social Europe to erode the social safeguards that are part of the – where high social safeguards are respected European social model and its national varieties. and Member States develop together, for more Rather than ensuring this model’s capacity for upward social convergence, redistribution, and upward social convergence, the Semester’s one- equality in Europe. Specifically, this Lab will deve- sided austerity measures are found to have a ne- lop progressive structural reforms as alternatives gative impact on our social benchmarks. As such, to the ones put forward in the Semester, in the SOLIDAR advocates strengthening the social hope of reducing inequalities and promoting dimension of the Semester and safeguarding the quality jobs, inclusive growth, and social invest- capacity of the European social model for upward ment. Our Social Progress Lab started on Monday social convergence. 6th July 2015 with a discussion between scholars and independent thinkers that took place in Recent signals from the European Institutions Turin, Italy. This was the first step in a process that inspire little hope in terms of a meaningful shift in will lead to the presentation of an edited volume policy and a strengthened social dimension, des- which will be presented to the European Parlia- pite the prolonged social crisis caused by the slow ment in December 2015. and disappointingly weak recovery in the Euro- pean labour market. Firstly, the recently adopted In order to strengthen the social dimension of the 2015 CSRs only superficially include employment Semester and safeguard the capacity of the Euro- policy and social protection as priority areas in pean social model for upward social convergence, the newly streamlined Semester. Job growth is SOLIDAR makes the following policy recommen- linked exclusively to more flexible labour market dations: rules and wage setting, while bolstering protec- tive measures for workers is nowhere mentioned. 3.1. Fighting unemployment (in particular Rather than achieving the Juncker Commission’s youth unemployment) through the promotion of ‘social triple A’ ambition, this is a corrosive ap- inclusive and quality employment as well as fair proach that will further strain the European social mobility model’s capacity for upward social convergence. In order to guarantee inclusive growth in Europe, Secondly, the social dimension of Europe is simi- we call for the promotion in the European Semes- larly treated as an afterthought in the ‘Five Pre- ter process – and in particular in the CSRs – of sidents’ Report’ of 22nd June 2015.12 Setting out initiatives aimed at providing inclusive labour their vision for the future of European integration, market opportunities to vulnerable groups, in particular young people who are not in em- 12 European Commission (2015). Completing Europe’s Econo- ployment, education and training (NEETs) and mic and Monetary Union, 22 June 2015, pp. 4-5.

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non-formal and informal learning migrants. The high levels of unemployment have To reduce inequalities and support the well-being triggered a one-sided policy response aimed of society, we promote the idea of making life- at more flexible labour market rules and wage long learning a reality for all, encouraging parti- setting, despite international institutions finding cipation in lifelong learning, especially for those that these types of measures do little to decrease who are far from education, have a weak income unemployment. Instead, the SOLIDAR EU Strate- position, young adults not in employment, edu- gy Groups call for more investments in active cation and training (NEETs), early school leavers, labour market policies, and the capacity of public and people at the risk of skills deterioration. employment agencies to effectively target vulne- Rather than limiting public spending on lifelong rable groups suffering from the growing inequa- learning, governments should invest in this venue lities on the European labour market. As in our for vulnerable groups to improve their position in view the realisation of an inclusive and cohesive the difficult European labour market. Moreover society goes beyond a workfare approach, we we call on European Institutions and Member believe that lifelong learning opportunities inclu- States to work on the recognition and validation ding non-formal and informal learning should be of learning outcomes of non-formal and infor- part of employment policy strategies – for ins- mal learning in order to bridge the gap between tance by integrating lifelong learning as a crucial labour market needs and available qualifications. component of active labour market policies. 3.4. Strengthening active citizenship and 3.2. Improving access to healthcare and qua- volunteering for social cohesion lity social services for all as well as quality employ- SOLIDAR believes that people’s empowerment ment in the healthcare and social sector and social engagement such as volunteering We promote the idea of ensuring universal access are crucial foundations in the creation of a more to social services as a pre-requisite to combating cohesive society in which every individual can poverty and achieving equality and social cohe- fully participate through realising her/his own sion. In recent years, health and social services potential and contribute to the well-being of have served as effective social safeguards against their communities. An open and inclusive society, the worst effects of the economic crisis. As such, providing room for all to participate in decisions, it is troublesome that they are being approached is necessary to strengthen social cohesion as well from a cost-effective perspective in the 2014 as advance the values of solidarity, social jus- European Semester, which creates the risk of tice and social responsibilities. The work of civil eroding the capacity of these services to shield society organisations that are active in promoting people from poverty and social exclusion. Due people’s engagement and participation in society attention must be given to access to quality ser- has a direct impact on the realisation of a more vices. Furthermore, we believe quality healthcare cohesive and equal society. In this way, also in the and social services are inextricably linked to de- context of the social dimension of the Economic cent work and quality employment. We support and Monetary Union, their contribution should the creation of sustainable quality employment be taken into account. However, the positive and decent work conditions that would also have contribution of volunteers to society should not the effect of attracting people to the sector and be mistaken or misused as a cost-effective alter- thereby better exploit its employment potential. native to maintain access to and the quality of public services. While European governments 3.3. Promoting access to and participation are increasingly tempted to rely on the work of in lifelong learning, with a particular focus on volunteers as public institutions scale down their services due to austerity measures, the volatile

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nature of volunteering does not allow it to be • The development of indicators and variables used in this manner. that enable measuring the impact of the actions of social and environmental organi- 3.5. Fighting discrimination and social exclu- sations. The development of these indicators sion will enable governments to define more SOLIDAR promotes a rights-based approach to clearly the impact of the various activities removing obstacles for vulnerable, excluded and that are measured. This will help create tax marginalised people when accessing their rights systems that both penalise practices with - the marginalised have a right to equal oppor- very negative impacts and boost practices tunities and equal treatment. In order to create with positive impacts. More information on inclusive and equal societies, opposing discrimi- these issues would enable more powerful nation based on social origin, gender, age and campaigns for the dissemination of the best disability for access to jobs, or in society generally, practices among the organisations, defining is a crucial factor to be taken into account when more clearly the variables and indicators for developing policy strategies to eradicate pover- running sustainable and responsible prac- ty and when developing strategies to decrease tices. social exclusion . • A European Media campaign to encourage responsible consumption practices. For the 3.6. Promoting, reinforcing, and supporting development of social economy and res- social economy ponsible practices among the organisations, We call for the full recognition and promotion of it is important to add education issues in the social economy as an alternative economic model field of consumption as European citizens to based on the values of co-operation, inclusivity, be able to implement good practice in the trust, democratic legitimacy, equality and rein- decision making of people when choosing a vestment of benefits which supports the creation product value. of sustainable, inclusive and quality jobs, as well • Supporting European networks of social as improving the availability and quality of social economy. There are several networks and services. Specifically, SOLIDAR recommends platforms in Europe that promote the social that governments take into account the unique, economy and socially responsible practices, value-driven nature of the social economy when through research, conferences and interna- promoting, reinforcing, and supporting this tional symposia. Supporting these organisa- sector, which cannot be regulated on an equal tions is crucial for the development of a social footing with the market-driven private sector. We economy by: common knowledge of social call on the European Institutions and Member economy; sharing experiences and good States involved in the European Semester process practices; creating synergies and the develop- to support the development of social enterprises, ment of new projects; enhancing networks which are on the front line of making tangible and disseminating the social economy among steps towards fighting poverty and social ex- the population clusion and empowering people to create more social cohesion.

Some of the concrete proposals coming from our members include13: 13 These recommendations have been provided by MPDL, after consultation with the platform “Economistas sin Fronteras”

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Twitter: @SOLIDAR_EU Facebook: SOLIDAR www.solidar.org [email protected]

This general report has been developed in the framework of the Social Pro- gress Watch initiative, a tool implemented by members and partners of SOLI- DAR to evaluate commitments of governments to promote active inclusion, reduce poverty, fight unemployment, defend and extend the right to decent work and quality jobs and promote universal social protection.

SOLIDAR is a European network of membership based Civil Society Organisations who gather several millions of citizens throughout Europe and worldwide. SOLIDAR voices the values of its member organisations to the EU and international institutions across the three main policy sectors; social affairs, lifelong learning and interna- tional cooperation.

Responsible Editor: Conny Reuter

Authors: Bregt Saenen

This publication has been produced with the financial support of the European Union. The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission.