SOCIAL PROGRESS WATCH SOLIDAR Social Progress Watch 2016 - A guideline to a rights- based approach for the European Pillar of Social Rights This report presents the main findings and general recommendations of the 2016 SOLIDAR Social Progress Watch Initiative regarding the ‘modernisation’ of social protection systems and access to services in the EU. It is based on extensive consultations with SOLIDAR members and partners, and is the first in a two-part series, the second of which will be dedicated to the integration of third country nationals. The objective of the recommendations is to close the gaps in the current pro- posal for the European Pillar of Social Rights, in order to ensure upward social convergence in the EU as enshrined in Article 9 TFEU and in the international commitments of Member States in the field of social protection. The report concludes that national social protection systems do not ensure decent living standards. Access to high quality social services is not guaranteed for all and is particularly limited for vulnerable people. SOLIDAR therefore calls for a rights- based approach that enforces uniform, high-level social standards accessible to everyone. Published in November 2016 © SOLIDAR TOGETHER FOR SOCIAL EUROPE COUNTRY STUDIES NOVEMBER 2016 SOCIAL PROGRESS WATCH 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS SOLIDAR Social Progress Watch 2016 - A guideline to a rights-based approach 5 for the European Pillar of Social Rights Austria 19 Volkshilfe and Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Austria Bulgaria 27 Institute for Social Integration Croatia 39 Centre for Peace Studies Czech Republic 47 Multicultural Center Prague France 64 La ligue de l’enseignement and CEMEA Germany 72 Arbeiter Wohlfahrt and Arbeiter-Samaritaner-Bund Germany Greece 82 Volkshilfe Greece Hungary 89 Progressive Economic Policy Foundation Italy 101 AUSER The Netherlands 117 Humanitas Romania 127 CONECT Serbia 137 Initiative for Development and Cooperation Slovakia 151 AOPSS Spain 161 Movimiento por la Paz United Kingdom 173 Volunteering Matters 3 Country Study TOGETHER FOR SOCIAL EUROPE COUNTRY STUDIES NOVEMBER 2016 SOCIAL PROGRESS WATCH 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2. SOLIDAR believes that the Pillar of Social Rights should encourage Member States to prioritise This report presents the main findings and general re- measures for the progressive realisation, which commendations of the 2016 SOLIDAR Social Progress includes the set of targets and time frames and Watch Initiative (SPWI) regarding the ‘modernisation of solidarity in financing. social protection systems’ and access to services in EU 3. SOLIDAR recommends that a set of values and Member States. The EU Strategy Groups established on goals to assess the upward social convergence Member State level as part of the SOLIDAR Social Pro- such as the respect for the rights and dignity of gress Watch Initiative highlight that minimum income people covered by the social security guarantees schemes do not enable their beneficiaries to live a life and high-quality public services should be put at in dignity and escape poverty. Unemployment benefit the core of the Pillar of Social Rights. schemes in countries with high unemployment have 4. SOLIDAR recommends that the right of everyone not been efficient in facilitating the transition into to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions work and are insufficient in both length and coverage. of work which ensure, in particular, remuneration According to the feedback received, the sustainability which provides all workers with fair wages and of pensions systems is under threat from an ageing po- equal remuneration for work of equal value wit- pulation and unemployment, leading to increasing po- hout distinction of any kind should be recognised verty among the elderly. Furthermore, in most of the in the Pillar of Social Rights. countries minimum wages are not adequate as they 5. SOLIDAR considers that universal access to social are below the 60 percent of national median income, services, including for third country nationals, leading to in-work poverty. Moreover, access to high should be ensured by the Pillar of Social Rights as quality and affordable social services is not guaranteed a pre-requisite for combating poverty and achie- in many countries. ving equality and social cohesion. In view of these findings, SOLIDAR considers that the 1. INTRODUCTION proposal for a European Pillar of Social Rights should be strengthened in order for it to be a catalyser for This is the first of two reports presenting the main the fulfilment of the EU and international normative findings and recommendations of the SPWI 2016. frameworks on Social Protection and promote upward It presents a timely evaluation of developments in social convergence founded on a rights-based ap- social protection systems and the situation of third proach. To achieve this, SOLIDAR proposes the fol- country nationals when it comes to access to social lowing main recommendations: services. Firstly, this report presents the main findings 1. The Pillar of Social Rights should guarantee that and overall trends found in this year’s country studies. everyone is entitled to an adequate income Secondly, it presents SOLIDAR’s general recommenda- support that respects the right to an adequate tions to achieve upward social convergence by reinfor- standard of living in accordance with the Interna- cing the Pillar of Social Rights. tional Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCRs). Special attention should be given The SPWI is a monitoring tool used by civil society to the principles of non-discrimination, social organisations in 15 European countries (Austria, Bulga- inclusion, gender equality and responsiveness to ria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, social needs. Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Serbia, 5 Country Study TOGETHER FOR SOCIAL EUROPE COUNTRY STUDIES NOVEMBER 2016 SOCIAL PROGRESS WATCH 2016 Slovakia and the United Kingdom), allowing them to tion of social protection provisions and growing dis- speak up together against Europe’s growing inequa- crimination towards third country nationals in access lities and to evaluate the commitment and progress to social services - SOLIDAR stresses the need to adopt made by national governments towards a more social a rights-based approach that builds on comprehen- and cohesive Europe. SOLIDAR brings these voices to sive and integrated social policies that are based on Brussels to put forward their recommendations and high-level social standards. This would enforce upward to give voice to their call to put upward social conver- social convergence in the EU as enshrined in Article gence back at the heart of EU and national policies 9 TFEU1, and certain rights granted by the Charter of as defined in the TFEU. The SPWI is implemented by Fundamental Rights in accordance with the interna- national EU Strategy Groups set up with the support of tional obligations to which the Member States have SOLIDAR members and partners and composed of pro- committed in the International Covenant on Econo- fessional staff working in the social service and social mic, Social and Cultural Rights. Furthermore, this year’s entrepreneurship sectors, end-users and volunteers, findings and recommendations will be used to identify experts in social services and the social economy, and gaps and possible improvements in the outline of the social partners, including representatives of the trade European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Commis- union movement. sion’s latest major initiative in the field of employment and social affairs. The recommendations developed in The monitoring process and our network’s findings this report would thus feed into the ongoing consulta- and recommendations are based on five social bench- tion process on the Pillar of Social Rights. marks divided into two thematic fields (cf. Table 1). For each benchmark, the country studies give information Table 1. Benchmarks of the SPWI 2016 first on an overview and main challenges based on 1) Integration of third-country nationals the evaluation of the Commission, and second on the • Tools/programmes implemented in a country for feedback provided by the national strategy groups. the integration of third country nationals The first thematic benchmarks were developed with • Measures/programmes implemented in a country the aim of evaluating the measures put in place by to promote intercultural coexistence and combat the Member States to promote the integration of third discrimination country nationals. The second theme, which is the sub- ject of this report, concerns the indicators that mea- 2) Developments in social protection systems sure developments in social protection systems. These • Adequate income support in a country as a basis benchmarks represent the fronts on which SOLIDAR for social protection over the life-span of a person believes progress should be made in order to ensure to fight poverty and ensure active inclusion (Mini- that everyone can enjoy a certain set of rights and that mum income, Unemployment benefits, Pensions, people can thrive and live a decent life. Level of household indebtedness) • Provisions for decent work at national level to SOLIDAR members have reported that over the last guarantee that people can earn a living and avoid few years financial constraints and austerity measures have had a negative impact on provisions regarding 1 Art. 9 TFUE: “In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall take into account requirements