EMIN policy coordinator 12 EU roadmap towards progressive realization of adequate and accessible Minimum Income Schemes Anne Van Lancker EMIN policy coordinator EMIN seminar Paris, 9 December 2013

Recommendations Adequacy of Minimum Income Launch a public debate on what is considered as an adequate minimum income: “income support schemes which provide a safety net for those who cannot work or access a decent job and are not eligible for social security payments or whose entitlements have expired” Adequate: income that is indispensable to live a life in dignity and to fully participate in society Create a panel of experts, including members SPC, NGOs, social partners, people experiencing poverty, to discuss common principles and definitions of what constitutes an adequate minimum income

Recommendations Adequacy of Minimum Income Guidance for debate on adequacy of MI: 60% of median income as an important national reference in pilot countries Use reference budgets to test the robustness of the level of MI and of the 60% threshold Development of a common EU-wide framework and methodology for reference budgets to assess adequacy of MIS, based on active participation of people experiencing poverty in the establishment of the basket of goods and services Result of these efforts should be reflected in an EU framework directive on adequate minimum income European Commission should commission a research on the cost of not investing in adequate minimum income and social protection

Coverage and take-up of Minimum Income Schemes Member States should evaluate their MIS in order to avoid the creation of hidden poverty, caused by non-take-up of the right to MI, by increasing transparency, informing eligible benefit recipients actively about their rights, by establishing simplified procedures and by putting in place policies to fight stigma and discrimination. The European Commission should commission research on non-take-up in Member States. The Open Method of Coordination could be used to exchange best practices on take-up.

Linking the three pillars of the Active Inclusion strategy Member States should commit to develop a comprehensive national strategy for active inclusion, based on three connected strands on an equal basis: adequate income support, inclusive labour markets and access to quality services. These strategies should be essential components of the National Reform Programmes under the Europe 2020 strategy, using the active inclusion strategy as ex-ante conditionality

Role of European Structural Funds in the fight against poverty and social exclusion Explicit reference to social inclusion and a 20% share of the ESF budget used exclusively for social inclusion can have beneficial effects on countries’ priorities. Member States should prioritize delivery on the commitment of allocating 20% of ESF for social inclusion in their Operational Programmes, support coordinated use of ESF and ERDF and monitor effectiveness. Member States should report on the use of structural funds to achieve the poverty target of the Europe 2020 strategy in their national reform programmes.

Role of European Structural Funds in the fight against poverty and social exclusion The European Commission should refuse to accept Operational programmes that don’t respect the 20% ring-fenced budget for social inclusion. It should also support countries by documenting good practices. The partnership principle should be enforced to ensure access to funds by NGOs and other relevant partners.

Poverty target in Europe 2020 and European Semester Poverty target (at least – 20 million) far off track (+ 4million) In many countries, austerity measures are undermining social policies. Lack of political will to address poverty. Social Investment Package: well-designed welfare systems combining strong social investment dimension with protection and stabilization are answers to crisis Main instruments under European Semester have to be rebalanced to address poverty: Annual growth Survey should be accompanied by Annual Progress Report: state of play on Europe 2020 targets, including on the role of minimum income in the fight against poverty Poverty target in Europe 2020 and European Semester

Poverty target in Europe 2020 and European Semester National Reform Programmes should become main instrument for progress on poverty target. Social reports should be made obligatory to document countries’ efforts to fight poverty and should include reporting on minimum income Address importance of social policies and comprehensive anti-poverty strategy, including adequate MI in Country Specific Recommendations The European Social Policy Network should ensure follow-up and report on countries’ efforts to provide adequate MIS. The Knowledge Bank should include data on MIS in countries.

Poverty target in Europe 2020 and European Semester Monitoring of the recommendation on child poverty should also report on the contribution of adequate MIS in the fight against child poverty. Ensure democratic legitimacy of European Semester and Europe 2020 strategy by fully involving parliaments, social partners and civil society, including people experiencing poverty European Commission should use horizontal social clause to assess austerity measures and reforms

Establish well-defined EU level social standards Use the social scoreboard as a basis for developing tangible benchmarks for Member States on how to fight or prevent poverty and social exclusion and feed in the Country Specific Recommendations 2014 Develop a system of well-defined and binding EU level social standards in hard law, as part of a Social Pact for Europe Use the ILO recommendation on national social protection floors, including access to essential goods and services, such as health, education, food an social services, and income support, as reference for these social standards The right to a decent minimum income could be a pioneer of such social standards