MISSOC NETWORK MEETING Amsterdam, 6-7 June 2016 Developments in MISSOC communication Loredana Sementini, MISSOC Secretariat

Website Communication Regularly updated (public and restricted area) Plans for the future: improved performance visual enhancements improved glossary (accessibility and content) On the basis of questions received, it seems to be mainly consulted for professional use (journalists, researchers, policy- makers and students) The website is steadily attracting more visits, but scope for improvement in terms of absolute figures (e.g. through increased visibility on the DG EMPL website)

Communication

Exchanges between Correspondents Communication Exchanges between Correspondents 21 exchanges since December 2014 (when Secretariat in copy for first time) 8 exchanges (of which 7 EUSurveys) since meeting in Luxembourg: Permanent disability (e-survey) Payment of Pensions to Pensioners in Prison (e-survey) Unemployment (e-survey) Changes in bilateral social security agreement with Australia (e-survey) Social security benefits to refugees (e-survey) Social benefits to single mothers (e-survey) Tax credits to low-wage workers (e-survey) Notion of "arduous jobs" within retirement legislation

Communication Files with consolidated results are published on the correspondents’ area… except those very few exchanges where the Secretariat was not (always) in CC + did not receive consolidated answers (2 cases). Feel free to contact us if you intend to launch an exchange and we will be happy to provide assistance with setting up an EUSurvey or exporting responses

Social Security Guides Communication Social Security Guides published on EUROPA updated once a year target audience: general public EN, FR, DE + official country language XML and PDF currently being updated from 2014 to 2016

Procedure Communication Secretariat sends Correspondents the latest version in Word in the country’s working language (EN, FR, DE) Correspondents update the information Review process (Secretariat and Correspondents) Translation (Secretariat) Approval of translation into the country’s own language (Correspondents ) Preparation final XML and PDF files for publication (Secretariat)

Some difficulties Communication Despite an overall smooth cooperation (many thanks to all of you), updating the Guides has been more challenging than anticipated: In most countries, changes are far more substantial than the one-page-limit agreed with previous contractor (with implications also for translations). As the Guides are intended for the public at large, they should be written in an easy-to-read, accessible way. Information can therefore not just be copied from the MISSOC Tables, but should be adjusted to the target audience. When revising the translation into the language of your country, please do not change the content.

We’d like to hear from you Communication Some difficulties Still dealing with teething problems? Possible reasons: First update after two years Correspondents' trying to improve, and not only update, Guides Change of Correspondents and lack of information about update process Others? We’d like to hear from you

Communication And the good news is… With more than 200,000 visits in one year, the Social Security Guides are reaching many people!

Thank you! Feedback and suggestions welcome on Communication the MISSOC website EUSurvey updating the Social Security Guides any other communication aspect(s) you would like to address Thank you!