1. CAN THE SEMESTER HELP BUILD A BETTER SOCIAL EUROPE?
SEMINAR
Thursday 12 January 2017
European Parliament, Brussels

2. Can the Semester help build a
better Social Europe?
Brussels, 12 January 2017
How well is the Semester delivering on Social Rights? – views of National/EU stakeholders
Paul Ginnell,
European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland
/ Chair of EAPN Europe’s EU Inclusion Strategies Group

3. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN)
Working since 1990 to put the fight against poverty at top of EU and member state policy agendas.
31 national members and 17 European organisation members.
Ongoing engagement with the European Semester throughout the annual process.
Detailed position on the European Pillar for Social Rights.
Reality of the crisis - extremely high poverty and increasing inequality

4. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Presentation outline
Introduction
EAPN assessment of 2016 National Reform Programmes
Proposals for 2017 Annual Growth Survey
Response to Annual Growth Survey and future of European Semester

5. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Introduction
European Semester meant to be key tool to deliver on Europe 2020, but mainly economic.
European Pillar of Social Rights – a key initiative but needs to be more than a benchmarking exercise – concrete progress on social standards.
The European Semester could have a key role in monitoring and helping to progress on social rights – but needs to be transformed.
EAPN learning from the European Semester delivery on poverty and social rights.

6. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
What progress on Social Europe:
Assessment of National Reform Programmes
17 National Networks (BE, HR, CY, CZ, DE, EE, FI, IE, LV, LT, MT, NL, PL, PT, SK, ES, SE)
EAPN Iceland and Macedonia as a benchmarking exercise
Workshop exchanges from 31 national networks in the EAPN EU Inclusion Strategies group

7. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
Macroeconomic
From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016

8. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
Macroeconomic cont.
From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016

9. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Macroeconomic cont.
Sweden: The NRP rejects austerity cuts on benefits and services.
Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Latvia, Slovakia and Spain: Focus is still on cuts in social spending

10. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Poverty
Sweden: The NRP rejects austerity cuts on benefits and services.
Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Latvia, Slovakia and Spain: Focus is still on cuts in social spending

11. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Poverty cont.
Poland: Despite achieving the poverty target, the government has decided to act to support further improvement. New generous, near-universal child benefit. New measures to combat precariousness on the labour market. Commitment to the development of preschool childcare.
Germany: A chapter about refugees shows many deficits in the German migration and asylum policy.

12. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Employment
81%
56%
The NRPs do not mention increasing quality jobs and tackling in-work poverty as keys priorities.
The employment measures proposed in the NRPs are not the right ones to ensure access to quality jobs for all.
Several NRPs have provisions which will further lower the quality of jobs.
Activation policies continue to focus on negative conditionality.
Young people are overwhelmingly the prioritized group, rather than promoting an inclusive labour market for all.
Missing a clear approach to address gender equality issues.
Positive initiatives in promoting social economy and entrepreneurship.

13. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Employment cont.
Portugal: Progressive updating of the minimum wage and an assessment of the impact of these updates.
Lithuania: There are no signs of personalized pathways for most excluded groups.

14. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
Education
From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
69%
The education and training measures are primarily aimed at increasing skills not at ensuring a comprehensive quality education system.
Structural Funds
37.5%
Structural Funds are being used effectively to reduce poverty and to deliver on the 20% ear- marking of ESF.

15. Governance & Participation From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
EAPN networks actively engaged in Semester process at national level with mixed results.
56%
69%
Anti-poverty NGOs were consulted in the development of the NRPs.
Anti-poverty NGOs views were not taken seriously into account in the NRPs.
France, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden: Highlight better involvement in their national NRPs.
Belgium: “Social partners were involved. However, anti-poverty NGOs and people experiencing poverty were not involved at all. In terms of progress on participation, we don’t really have it. On the contrary, we face the most difficult times for some years”.

16. AGS propose a transformative, social and economic agenda
From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Proposals for Annual Growth Survey
AGS propose a transformative, social and economic agenda
Promote an economy that is beneficial to all putting social objectives on a par with macroeconomic priorities and reflected at all stages of the Semester process.
A more transparent and democratic process that can ensure effective ex-ante and ex-post social impact assessment.
Link Europe 2020 and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda.

17. AGS demonstrate a clear social dimension
From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Proposals for Annual Growth Survey cont.
AGS demonstrate a clear social dimension
Set out a road map for the implementation and mainstreaming of the European Pillar of Social Rights in all policies.
Recognize social policy as an investment not a cost.
Concrete measures and EU frameworks to ensure social standards, establish a level playing field and reduce inequalities between and within Member States.
Back the development of an explicit integrated anti-poverty strategy developed together with stakeholders.

18. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Proposals for Annual Growth Survey cont.
3. AGS establish clear mechanisms to ensure effective NGO participation and impact
Set out clear mechanisms, with concrete guidelines for effective, quality participation for NGOs on an equal footing with traditional EU social partners.
Participation must go beyond mere consultation and become a partnership approach through regular structured dialogue, where views are taken into account and incorporated into solutions, as well as being made publicly visible.
The European Semester Officers should play a more explicit role to promote and fund effective civil society engagement.

19. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Response to AGS & future of the Semester
- opportunities
Reaffirms commitment to mainstreaming social concerns alongside economic goals.
A softening of the approach on austerity and more flexibility on fiscal rules.
Recognition of the need to tackle the high poverty and inequality rates. Explicit reference to Europe 2020 targets.
Recognition that tax systems should play a role in combating inequality.
Social policy as a productive factor – but social policy must first be about achieving social goals.
Calls for progress on strong social standards including adequate minimum income.
Explicit references in support of quality jobs, reducing precariousness and supporting transitions.
A focus on addressing housing needs, including social housing.
A call to double the European Fund for Strategic Investment (ESIF) and invest in human capital and social infrastructure.
Reference to achieving a smooth welcome for migrants including refugees.

20. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Response to AGS & future of the Semester
- threats
Still lacks re-balancing of the economic and social agenda and new priority on social rights.
Stability and Growth remain the overarching economic framework with the same 3 economic priorities.
The European Pillar of Social Rights is not explicitly mentioned.
A continued focus on “modernising social protection, flexibilizing labour markets” appears to undermine the commitments to quality jobs, and improving access to social protection and services.
The continuing priority given to ensuring the financial sustainability of budgets.
The lack of a clear assessment of the likely overall impact on poverty and social inclusion or signs that the EU is ready to invest in an explicit rights-based integrated strategy.
No mention is made of the key role of civil society, only social partners.

21. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Proposals
Prioritise Inclusive Growth by rebalancing economic and social objectives.
Increase social investment in quality jobs, public services and social protection.
Mainstream the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights explicitly through the European Semester.
Develop an Integrated EU poverty strategy to deliver on the Europe 2020 poverty target.
Make civil society equal partners at national and EU level.

22. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Key EAPN documents
What Progress on Social Europe? EAPN Assessment of the National Reform Programmes
Delivering on the Promises of a better Social Europe? EAPN’s Analysis of the 2017 Annual Growth Survey & Joint Employment Report

23. From the Delors White Paper (1993)
to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016),
what future for the fight against poverty in Europe?
Brussels, 16 June 2016
Thank you!
For more information: