1 Black Sea Conference on Shared Growth and Regional Integration Highlights of the 2009 Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion Athens, 24 February 2009 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Walter WOLF Social protection and inclusion policies

2 OVERVIEW 1.EU Social Protection and Social Inclusion Process 2.Recent data 3.Highlights of the 2009 Joint Report (as proposed by the Commission on February 13)

3 ‘Open Method of Coordination’ (OMC) Definition of common Objectives and agreed indicators Reporting to national partners and to the EU (EC, Council, EP) Facilitating mutual learning and exchange of good practices EU Social Inclusion Process

4 EU social protection and inclusion strategy Overarching Objectives social cohesion, equality between men and women and equal opportunities for all through adequate, accessible, financially sustainable, adaptable and efficient social protection systems and social inclusion policies. effective and mutual interaction between the Lisbon objectives of greater economic growth, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and with the EU's Sustainable Development Strategy. good governance, transparency and the involvement of stakeholders in the design, implementation and monitoring of policy

5 Expenditure on social protection as % of GDP in the EU in 2005

6 Expenditure on social protection in PPS per capita, 2005

7 The 2006 Social Inclusion Objectives access for all to the resources, rights and services needed for participation in society, addressing exclusion, and fighting all forms of discrimination the active social inclusion of all, both by promoting participation in the labour market and by fighting poverty and exclusion that social inclusion policies are well coordinated and involve all levels of government and relevant actors, including people experiencing poverty, that they are efficient and effective and mainstreamed into all relevant public policies Making a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty and social exclusion by ensuring:

8 At-risk-of poverty rate in the EU (%), total, children and elderly, 2007

9 In work poverty: at-risk-of-poverty rate of people in employment 18 and over, 2007 (%)

10 Impact of social transfers (excl. pensions) on at- risk-of-poverty rate, total and children 2007 (%)

11 The pensions objectives Adequacy Ensure adequate retirement incomes for all and access to pensions Sustainability Ensure the financial sustainability of public and private pension schemes Modernisation Ensure that pension systems are transparent, well adapted to the needs and aspirations of women and men and to demographic ageing and structural change; that people receive the information they need

12 Change in employment rate of older workers, 55-64,

13 The healthcare and long-term care objectives Access Ensure access for all to adequate health and long- term care and that the need for care does not lead to poverty and financial dependency Sustainability Ensure quality in health and long-term care and by adapting care, including developing preventive care, to the changing needs and preferences of society and individuals, Quality Ensure that adequate and high quality health and long-term care remains affordable and financially sustainable by promoting a rational use of resources

14 Total health expenditure as a % of GDP (2006 or latest available)

15 Highlights of the 2009 Joint Report Build on EU Values of solidarity to cushion the impact of the economic crisis Further strengthening of positive mutual interaction with action for jobs and growth Social protection as ‘automatic stabilisers’ Structural reforms provide indications for European Economic Recovery Plan

16 Highlights of the 2009 Joint Report The European Social Fund should be used to its full potential to alleviate the social impacts of the crisis by Supporting rapid re-entry of the unemployed Focussing on the most vulnerable Simplified implementation of the Structural Funds

17 Highlights of the 2009 Joint Report Comprehensive Active Inclusion strategies Inclusive labour markets Access to quality services Adequate minimum income schemes Vigilance is needed about the ‘new’ risk groups, such as the young

18 Highlights of the 2009 Joint Report A boost must be given to Member States efforts to Implement comprehensive strategies to fight child poverty Tackle homelessness Address multiple disadvantages of Roma Promote social inclusion of migrants

19 Highlights of the 2009 Joint Report Long term adequacy and sustainability of the pension systems Continued efforts to reach the target of 50% employment rate of older workers Monitor pension adequacy notably for women and low wage earners Funded scheme designs will need to be reviewed to cope with risks and to improve coverage

20 Highlights of the 2009 Joint Report Healthcare, in particular where systems are under-resourced, need to : Improve value for money Reduce inequalities Address staff shortages Establish and strengthen systems of Long- term care Improve care coordination and support informal carers

21 Series of Social Protection and Social Inclusion studies enlargement_en.htm#studies enlargement_en.htm#studies BG, RO and TR (2003) MD + UA (+BY) to be published by late 2009 AR, AZ and GE about to be launched, publication foreseen by late 2010 Ongoing work on the Black Sea Region

22 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Further Information DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities ‘Social Inclusion’ website spsi/poverty_social_exclusion_en.htm