Transcript Slide 1

The PROGRESS
Programme and the instruments
and actors of European policies for
social inclusion
Visegrad Platform Visit
2nd July 2008 - Brussels
Luca PIROZZI – European Commission - DG EMPL – Unit E2
Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities ─ Unit E2
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European Commission
Outline of the presentation

Social Policies: the role of Europe …

The PROGRESS Programme

The National Strategy Reports 2008-2010 and
the role of the EU networks
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Social Policies:
the role of Europe …
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European Commission
... a limited competence ...
 ... in employment and social areas ...
 Main responsibility lies with the Member States
-> subsidiarity
 So… what is the role of the EU in these areas?
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A catalyst for change
support to MSs in meeting commitments or converging
towards EU objectives by:

Implementing & following-up EU objectives into national policies

Monitoring & evaluating application of EU legislation and policies

Promoting co-operation/coordination between MSs and with civil society
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Encouraging policy ambitions and commitment

Strengthening governance & encourage “ownership”

Stronger links between EU & national, regional and local levels

Active participation of all stakeholders

Increasing comprehension & awareness + exchanges (PROGRESS)

Mainstreaming (Lisbon & SDS) + strengthening links with Structural
Funds
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The tools
“strategically” complementary tools :
• Legislation
• Policy Co-ordination
(art. 13 & art. 138)
(Open Method of Co-ordination)
• European social dialogue
• European Social Fund
• Other financial tools directly managed by
the Commission
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OMC: key elements
Common Objectives
& policy priorities
Commonly
agreed
indicators
National Strategy
Reports
Joint Report
on Social Protection
and Social Inclusion
PROGRESS
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The PROGRESS
Programme
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PROGRESS: a tool for …
1.
Contributing to the strategic goals of creating more and better
jobs and offering equal opportunities for all
2.
Using the possibilities offered by an integrated programme
–
new possibilities to improve policy coherence and efficiency
through cross-cutting work
–
at the same time, taking account of the specificities of each policy
section
3.
Establishing strong partnerships and increasing public trust
–
success and impact will depend on establishment of partnerships with
MSs & stakeholders, including social partners & civil society
–
essential to take account of concerns & aspirations of EU citizens
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Sections under the Programme
1. Employment
(art. 125 -130)
Linked to the European Employment Strategy
2. Social protection and inclusion
Linked to Open Method of Coordination
(art.137)
3. Working conditions
(art.137)
Labour law, restructuring & anticipating change, strategy on
health & safety at work
4. Antidiscrimination & diversity
(art.13)
Principle of non-discrimination and mainstreaming of the
principle into all EU policies
5. Gender equality
(art.2; art.13; art. 141)
Principle of gender equality and mainstreaming of the principle
into all EU policies
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1. Design evidence-based EU
policies & legislation
availability of reliable information and quality analysis is
instrumental in informing policy development
– Innovative methodologies to monitor labour markets; statistics
& indicators on employment-related issues (cooperation with
Eurostat + CEDEFOP); data & statistical tools on occupational
accidents and diseases; implementation of UN Convention on
Rights of Persons with Disabilities; promote cooperation with
international organisations or third countries
Social inclusion:
–
effectiveness of policies on housing and homelessness to promote social
cohesion; stakeholders' involvement in implementation of the social
inclusion process; description, comparison & analysis on social impact
assessment tools
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European Commission
2. Effective information sharing
& learning
support exchanges of good practices, mutual learning
activities and transfer of knowledge at national & EU levels
– setting-up of relevant observatories, networks of specialised
bodies foreseen under EC legislation, networks of national
experts and organisation of mutual learning activities;
Reconciliation of work, private and family life; cooperation with
third countries on globalisation; Equal participation of women
and men in decision-making
Social inclusion:
– Peer review seminars + national experts
– Monitoring developments at national level as regards poverty
and social exclusion
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3.
Better integration of crosscutting issues
integrated nature gives possibility of increasing coherence
and relevance of EU policies & legislation in PROGRESS areas
• several cross-cutting studies (i.e. promoting integration of
migrants in labour market & society)
• improving knowledge and understanding of application of EU
legislation in MSs & promoting co-operation with MSs and
other stakeholders (social partners, NGOs, judges, lawyers, experts)
• support to key EU networks
• Communication strategy covering 5 areas
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4.
Greater capacity networks to
promote and develop policies & objectives
promoting involvement of civil society, in particular through
financial support to key EU-level networks
•
networks active in fight against discrimination, integration of
disabled people, defence of the Roma people rights, promotion of
gender equality, fight against social exclusion
but also
•
Network of women in decision-making
•
Network of national equality bodies in non-discrimination field
•
Network of local observatories on active inclusion
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5.
Promoting high-quality and participatory
policy debate at EU & national levels
EU policy initiatives need to benefit from broad-based support
at both EU and national levels
– organisation of high-quality, inclusive & participatory policy
debates
– EU-level media campaign on concrete benefits of EU policies
– Promotion of debates on social inclusion and social protection, in
support of the reinforcement of the social OMC
– Forums such as the Round Table on Poverty and Social Exclusion,
the annual meeting of People Experiencing Poverty
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The role of the EU networks
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… a strategic partnership …
 EU networks play a key role in representing, promoting &
defending rights/interests of their constituencies at EU level
-> an important contribution to make in context of the OMC
 2007 PROGRESS Call for proposals launched with a view to
selecting EU-level networks to work with Commission and
receive EC support on stable/regular basis for 2008-2010
 Framework partnerships concluded with key actors in the areas
of: combating poverty & social exclusion/discrimination;
promoting gender equality & integration of disabled people;
representing Roma people
 In area of combating poverty/exclusion -> 12 networks,
including Eurodiaconia
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National Strategy Reports 2008-2010
• Guidance note adopted by the SPC on 5 February 2008 after
consultation of stakeholders
• Insistence on stakeholder involvement in preparation + through all
stages of policy cycle
• Submission: by 15th Sept. 2008  if additional time is needed for
political endorsement, no later than 30th Sept. 2008
• NAPs/incl.:
– Suggested new focus: social integration of migrants & ethnic
minorities would justify more attention
– But MSs should determine their own priorities on the basis of
evaluation of progress & challenges that were identified
– EY2010 for combating poverty and social inclusion is announced
– Targets should be set
– Reference to recommendations of the ISG Task-force on child poverty
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Social inclusion networks & NRS/SPSI
•
promote involvement and active role of national member
organisations in developing, implementing, monitoring and
evaluating
•
ensure that these take account of the experience of people
exposed to poverty
•
develop/reinforce contacts & cooperation with public officials
•
support Commission’s analysis
•
including through contacts with the independent social inclusion
experts -> encouraged to take account of key stakeholders’ views
in their countries esp. national members of EU Networks
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A.
Preparation process
• a real strategic planning process or just a reporting
exercise?
• integration with key national policy making processes
• extent and depth of consultations with stakeholders
– improvements in consultation and participatory approaches
– arrangements for involving stakeholders on an ongoing basis in
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of plans
• involvement of regional/local levels of governance
• extent of public and political discussion
(e.g. National Parliaments, media)
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B.
Overall strategic approach
– overall assessment of strengths / weaknesses
– extent of progress since last round
– consistency and continuity of priorities
– increase in ambition
– clear allocation of resources and responsibility
– synergies with other strands
– clarity of overall objectives and targets
– extent of feeding in and feeding out and quality of examples
– quality of monitoring and evaluation arrangements
(institutional arrangements; involvement of relevant actors; relevance of indicators;
impact assessment; independent assessment)
– progress on governance arrangements
(political leadership & responsibility; mainstreaming and coordination; mobilisation
and involvement of actors; progress in involving regional/local authorities)
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Thank you for your attention
For more information
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_inclusion/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/progress/index_en.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/emplweb/tenders/index_calls_en.cfm
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European Commission