The Platform of European Social NGOs Presentation for the Steering Group March 27, 2014

Index Information: Task forces on topics on which we have a Social Platform position Decision: Task forces on topics on which we don’t have a Social Platform position Discussion: Political orientation on our new topics

INFORMATION (point 5 of the agenda) Task forces on topics on which we have a Social Platform position Obj. 5 Migration (2013) Obj. 4 Combating all forms of bias violence through EU legislation (2012) Obj. 1 Public procurement (2011-12) Obj. 6 Civil dialogue (2009)

How we are going to set up the task forces After the Steering Group meeting, the Secretariat will send members: a call to register for the task forces terms of reference for each task force by specifying: Objectives Expected outcomes Foreseen beginning date and end date Foreseen no. of meetings Profile of participants

DECISION (point 6 of the agenda) Task forces on topics on which we don’t have a Social Platform position Obj 1. European governance (European Semester and mid-term review of Europe 2020) Obj. 1 Social benefits (minimum income and unemployment benefits) Obj. 1 Minimum wage Obj. 3 EU internal Strategy on Human Rights Obj. 1 Financing of social services

DISCUSSION Political orientation on our new topics Obj. 1 Mid-term review of Europe 2020 Obj. 1 Minimum income Obj. 1 Minimum wage Obj. 3 EU internal Strategy on Human Rights Obj. 1 Financing of social services ‘Unemployment benefits’ and ‘European Semester’ will be discussed at the next SG meeting

Discussion process for all objectives 1) What policy challenge are we facing? 2) What do we want? (clear definition and key elements) 3) what is the most appropriate tool? 4) What is our target? 5) Who should we partner with to impact the target?

Mid-term review Europe 2020 Political Orientation Rebalancing financial/economic vs social policies Put EU back on track with social targets + reduce inequalities Possible questions How to rebalance? Key challenges and flaws of Europe 2020? Review poverty target / Review EPAP? Review employment target? Inequality reduction target? Possible partners?

Mid-term review Europe 2020 What is our target? The European Council Who should we partner with to impact the target? The Spring Alliance The Trade unions?

Minimum income Policy challenge: there is no minimum income scheme at EU level Political Orientation EU framework on minimum income: definition Accessible + adequate minimum income schemes in all member states Possible questions Directive? Decision? Recommendation? Essential elements of the framework? (adequacy? Accessibility? Beneficiaries? Calculation methods?) Possible partners?

Minimum income Target: the EC, the Council Partner: EMIN, ETUC?

Minimum wage Political challenge: No minimum wage set at EU level and challenges of posting of workers directive, fiscal consolidation, competition policy Political Orientation an EU framework on minimum wage / living wage or at least a statutory minimum wage in all member states key elements of living / minimum wages: adequacy + coverage (all workers) + calculation methods Possible questions Minimum wages or living wages? Do we want an EU framework? Building a coalition with ETUC?

Minimum wage Opportunities: only 7 member states don’t have a minimum wage Challenge: ETUC is against a EU legislation on minimum wage. Target: the Commission and European Council Partner: we cannot go alone without the TU

EU internal Strategy on HR Policy challenge: There is no EU internal human rights policy while there are numerous systemic Human rights violation in member states Proposition: EU adopts a strategy and internal mechanisms that address member states failures to respond to consistent and structural violations of human rights. Key demands: content of the internal strategy, indivisibility of human rights, action plan, mechanisms of EU intervention, upward convergence between internal and external strategy.

EU internal Strategy on HR Target: European Commission and Council Partnership: Work and define the content of our messages together with the Human Rights and Democracy Network: In order to collectively generate maximum political will by civil society. We will also seek further possible partnership.

Financing of social services Political Orientation public funding should be the mainstream way to finance social services, in order to guarantee universal access, quality, accessible and affordable services for all concrete responses to the current challenges: shrinking public financing how to cope with an increased demand for social services with less resources? pressure on measuring the social impact, increased focus on efficiency and effectiveness of service provision (the logic of “payment by result”) social services considered more and more only for the most vulnerable and not for society as a whole (repairing versus investing)

Financing of social services Possible questions Are revised taxation policies a possible answer to respond to shrinking public financing? What are the conditions according to which we can accept that private sources can complement public funding? If so, to: promote social innovation? support in a temporary way social services in the countries under the Troika supervision or those with an excessive public debt? Do we want to explore existing methods and tools to improve quantitative and qualitative assessment of social service delivery? Do existing tools and methodologies need to be adjusted to our sector? Can they help us to improve management control, strategic thinking, planning, and support our accountability towards funders and institutions?