1. 5b 5b
European Pillar of Social Rights, Reflection Paper on Social Dimension What now?
Sian Jones
Policy Coordinator
European Anti Poverty Network
June 2017 EUISG, Brussels
Eapn.eu

2. Outline Overview of European Pillar of Social Rights5b
Outline
Overview of European Pillar of Social Rights
Reflection Paper on Social Dimension of Europe
What’s positive / what’s missing?
What EAPN ACTION?

3. European Pillar of Social Rights – What is it?5b
European Pillar of Social Rights – What is it?
Package adopted by the European Commission 26 April 2017
An EU framework of rights and principles to support “fair and well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems”
Aims to support a renewed “process of upward social convergence towards better working and living conditions”.
Primarily for euro area, but open to all Member States.
Includes ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ legislative initiatives
3 main areas of the Pillar:
Equal opportunities and access to labour market
Fair working conditions
Social protection and inclusion

4. European Pillar of Social Rights – Positive Elements5b
European Pillar of Social Rights – Positive Elements
Strong support for social progress reinforcing social standards
Improvements of 20 policy domains:
right of children to protection from poverty
proposal of a new right to social protection to apply to all workers,
right to adequate unemployment benefits for reasonable duration,
statement of right to minimum income that ensures a life in dignity,
access to social housing / assistance / adequate shelter / services for homeless
More clarity on implementation through European Semester through new social Scoreboard; EU funds will be targeted accordingly.
Useful legislative proposals – but unclear support from Member States.
Useful Staff Working Documents, assessing the implementation on key EU strategies (Investing in Children, Active Inclusion), but no Roadmap for future. -

5. European Pillar of Social Rights – Negative / Missing Elements5b
European Pillar of Social Rights – Negative / Missing Elements
A framework of voluntary principles, not binding obligations and rights.
Initially limited to Euro area…
Poverty and social exclusion (except children) have a lower profile and no explicit link made to Europe 2020 target
Implementation is still unclear, main burden falling on European Semester already struggling with reduced CSRs
Social Scoreboard is useful extension of social indicators, but not coherent with the policy domains.
The legislative initiatives focused on social protection for all workers, employment legislation, and work-life balance, nothing on Minimum Income / wage with strong risk of failure from Member States.
Lack of detail about how to ensure that macroeconomic policy support not undermine social rights.
Civil dialogue gets a low profile, compared to social dialogue.

6. Reflection Paper on the Social Dimension of Europe5b
Reflection Paper on the Social Dimension of Europe
1 of series of reflection papers produced to deepen discussion on the White Paper on the Future of Europe
Part of consultation process -national and EU level, leads to Gothenburg Summit on 17th November
Maps trends, challenges and main drivers, including poverty and inequality, highlighting new social risks
EU can play a role supporting convergence in social standards and empowering citizens and through EU funds
Proposes 3 scenarios:
Limit social dimension to free movement: step back on minimum standards
Enhanced coordination, ie Euro area… EU unemployment benefit?
Whole EU 27 deepen social dimension together: social values seen as ‘fundamental to EU project’, binding benchmarks, more funds for poverty reduction.

7. Reflection Paper on the Social Dimension - key points5b
Reflection Paper on the Social Dimension - key points
Recognizes growing inequality, risk of poverty and need for convergence to ensure social rights in new world of work, particularly through education and effective social protection.
However, main objective still seems to be ‘modernizing’ and ‘restructuring’ labour markets and social protection (Securiflex!) to promote growth.
Weak overall focus on adequacy of income, nor access to public services.
Highlights that EU social budget now is too low! Only 0.3% of public social expenditure.
The paper makes clear that the implementation of a strong Social Pillar depends on opting for the 2nd or better 3rd scenario – allowing ‘progress together on social standards’.

8. EAPN Actions on Pillar of Social Rights5b 5
EAPN Actions on Pillar of Social Rights
Participation in European Commission’s Stakeholder Dialogue Meetings (2016)
12 January 2017: EAPN event in European Parliament: Can the Semester help build a better Social Europe? with Maria João Rodrigues MEP
Follow up social media campaign with members on Rodrigues EP report (17 January)
16 Feb: EAPN presentation to EMCO – including new ways of work
Follow up on position paper: Last Chance for Social Europe, finalized and consultation response submitted. National and EO member responses.
21 Feb 2017: Letter to President Juncker / Dombrovskis / Thyssen: Time for Timidity is over – need for strong Social Pillar. Reply received.
Participation / Intervention in key events on the Social Pillar at Brussels/national level.
Social Media campaign with members: “Last chance for Social Europe” in 2 stages, until end of April.
31 May: EAPN presentation to SPC – on European Pillar of Social Rights and CSRs.

9. What EAPN Action Plan Now?5b
What EAPN Action Plan Now?
Our Aim?
Still trying to influence the content? Or pushing for our interpretation / effective implementation? What priorities?
1) Informing and exchanging with members
Briefing to members and exchange of views / experiences
2) Developing an EAPN response
Highlighting positives / negatives and what’s missing
Proposing ‘our interpretation’ of priority domains?
Proposals on social Scoreboard?
Proposals of implementation, particularly in the European Semester?
Call for strong role for civil society

10. 5b
What EAPN Action Plan?
3) Monitoring delivery through the European Semester and using it to press for better NGO engagement?
4) Try to influence the interinstitutional proclamation through Parliament, Council and Commission?
5) Engage with the Gothenburg Summit? Present messages, get invites / representation? Organize side event?
6) Detailed work on the new social Scoreboard (indicators)? with the SPC and EMCO Indicators Sub Group (ISG)
7) Support for legislative initiatives?
Support the work of the Brussels work-life balance coalition
Prioritize access to social protection, including public consultation and EP input

11. Discussion Points
What reaction to the Social Pillar and Reflection Paper?
What’s positive / missing?
What are our key messages?
What should we do?
General approach
Prioritize policy principles for further work
Agree next steps - EU and national

12. What Principles are a priority?5b
What Principles are a priority?
Equal Opportunities and access to the labour market
1. Education, training and lifelong learning
2. Gender equality
3. Equal opportunities
4. Active support to employment
Fair working conditions
5. Secure and adaptable employment
6. Wages
7. Information about employment conditions/dismissals
8. Social dialogue and involvement of workers
9. Work-life balance
10. Healthy, safe and well-adapted environment and data protection.

13. What Principles are a priority?5b
What Principles are a priority?
Social Protection and Inclusion
11. Childcare and support to children
12. Social protection
13. Unemployment benefits
14. Minimum income (EMIN)
15. Old age income and pensions
16. Health care
17. Inclusion of people with disabilities
18. Long-term care
19. Housing and assistance for homeless
20. Access to essential services

14. Thank you for your attention!5b
Thank you for your attention!
For more information, please contact Sian Jones EAPN Policy Coordinator