1. POLICY FRAMEWORK AND TOOLS FOR COMBATING POVERTY IN THE EU
EAPN: An Overview
POLICY FRAMEWORK AND TOOLS FOR COMBATING POVERTY IN THE EU
The European Anti-Poverty Network
EAPN Policy Team

2. OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION
EAPN: An Overview
OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENTATION
EAPN OVERARCHING APPROACH
EU ROLE IN SOCIAL POLICY
SOCIAL INCLUSION IN THE OMC / LISBON
ACTIVE INCLUSION AND MINIMUM INCOME
THE EUROPEAN EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY
STRUCTURAL FUNDS
FROM LISBON TO EUROPE 2020
OTHER EAPN POLICY AREAS

3. What is needed to stand up against poverty?
EAPN: An Overview
POVERTY, INEQUALITY
AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION
What is needed to stand up against poverty?
Poverty as a denial of fundamental rights
– rights and dignity for all, breaking stereotypes, addressing discrimination
An economy at the service of people
– achieving a fairer distribution of wealth
Policy mix
– poverty can not be solved by social policies alone
Adequate income, decent work and universal services
– not poor services for poor people
A well functioning democracy
– representation and participation
Solidarity across the globe
– the fight against poverty outside and inside Europe is part of the same struggle

4. EU ROLE IN SOCIAL POLICY
EAPN: An Overview
EU ROLE IN SOCIAL POLICY
EU initially an economic project - to facilitate the exchange of goods and services and promote the internal market
Social Policy seen as responsibility of Member States, but increasing need to balance growth with social cohesion.
Key social milestones include: Treaty of Rome – Equal Pay (‘57), European Social Fund (‘65), Poverty Programmes (‘85)
1997 Treaty of Amsterdam launches new soft Open Method of Coordination (OMC) with European Employment Strategy (EES)
2000 – Lisbon Strategy: launches EU Social Inclusion Strategy with Open Method of Coordination (OMC) on Social Inclusion
Social Policy primarily delivered through soft mechanisms (OMC), but demands for greater EU role and harder instruments/laws.

5. SOCIAL INCLUSION AND THE OMC
EAPN: An Overview
SOCIAL INCLUSION AND THE OMC
The Open Method of Coordination is a soft EU working method, coordinating national action around common EU objectives.
OMC on Social Inclusion launched in 2000, part of Lisbon Agenda Goal: to make a decisive impact on poverty and social exclusion.
Key elements:
Common Objectives
National Action Plans involving stakeholders, including PEP
Joint reports evaluating progress with peer review
Common Indicators
Mutual learning – peer review, studies, conferences
Community Action Funding Programme ( now PROGRESS)
2005 – Streamlined OMC: social protection and social inclusion
3 pillars: social inclusion, pensions, health and long-term care

6. THE COMMON OBJECTIVES ON SOCIAL PROTECTION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
EAPN: An Overview
THE COMMON OBJECTIVES ON SOCIAL PROTECTION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
Social Cohesion, equality between men and women, equal opportunities for all
Effective mutual interaction with Lisbon objectives.
Good Governance and involvement of stakeholders.
Social Inclusion Objectives
Access for all to resources, rights and services needed for participation, preventing and addressing exclusion and fighting discrimination.
Active Social Inclusion for all,
Good coordination and involvement of all key actors, including people in poverty, and mainstreaming into all public policies
Overarching Objectives

7. THE ACTIVE INCLUSION STRATEGY
EAPN: An Overview
THE ACTIVE INCLUSION STRATEGY
Developed through the Social OMC, adopted by the European
Commission in October 2008; endorsed by the EPSCO
Integrated approach to tackle unemployment and social
exclusion of those furthest from the labour market;
Aimed to make progress on Council Recommendation (92) on adequate
resources (minimum income) and to temper make work pay
EP Report (Jean Lambert) backed it and demand for progress on EU
framework on minimum income.
Three mutually reinforcing pillars:
adequate income support; (minimum income)
access to quality services;
inclusive labour market;
Next step – implementation!

8. SOCIAL INCLUSION - THE OMC + EU2020
EAPN: An Overview
SOCIAL INCLUSION - THE OMC + EU2020
EAPN Social Inclusion Working Group
Support members to engage in NAPs/ OMC and
Lobby together on EU and national social inclusion strategies
Key Reports on: NAPs and NSRSPSI, Lisbon NRP, Crisis – social impact
Lobbying: position papers, letters, press releases, meetings, conferences:
An EU we can trust, European Poverty Platform, Social OMC, Minimum Income
Peer Review/Exchange – OMC, Active Inclusion booklet
Awareness-raising: poverty, wealth, and adequate income explainers
Multidimensional strategies defending access to rights, resources, services including
Active Inclusion, progress on child poverty, homelessness, ethnic minorities and Roma

9. THE EUROPEAN EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY
EAPN: An Overview
THE EUROPEAN
EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY
Introduced by the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997;
Incorporated in the Lisbon Strategy in 2000;
2005 – based on the Wim Kok report on the mid-term revision of the Lisbon Strategy - refocus the Lisbon Agenda on promoting growth and jobs;
National Reform Programmes (yearly);
Employment Guidelines (7-10)
Peer reviews and mutual learning
Dialogue between Member States and Commission; Joint Employment Report
Now part of the new Europe 2020 Strategy

10. THE EUROPEAN EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY EAPN WORK
EAPN: An Overview
THE EUROPEAN
EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY
EAPN WORK
Working Group on Employment
Involvement in national peer reviews and NRPs
Input to the Joint Employment Report and Flagship Initiatives
Production of own reports analysing the NRPs
Quality of Work Explainer (in 2011), position and lobbying papers
Crisis monitoring reports
Video on Activation Practices

11. STRUCTURAL FUNDS Priority for EAPN since 1990
EAPN: An Overview
STRUCTURAL FUNDS
Priority for EAPN since 1990
Ensure that Structural Funds make a significant contribution to fighting poverty and social exclusion
Strive for a stronger NGO involvement in the Structural Funds (national and European level)
Provide timely information for a better access of NGOs to all stages of Structural Funds
New developments: Cohesion Policy backing the Europe 2020 Strategy
EAPN’s key demand: making sure that Structural Funds will deliver on the poverty reduction target.
Which role for Structural Funds in the European Platform against Poverty?
Lobbying on the future of Cohesion Policy

12. STRUCTURAL FUNDS EAPN WORK
EAPN: An Overview
STRUCTURAL FUNDS
EAPN WORK
Working Group on Structural Funds
Involvement in Operational Programmes
Input to the debate on the future of the European Social Fund
Input to the debate on the future of cohesion policy
Position and lobbying papers
EAPN Structural Funds manual
Leaflet on good practices of social inclusion funded by Structural Funds (2011)

13. FROM THE LISBON STRATEGY
EAPN: An Overview
FROM THE LISBON STRATEGY
TO EUROPE 2020
Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
Europe 2020 – 5 overarching targets, including:
Achieving 75% employment rate
Reducing people in poverty by at least 20 million
Other objectives: increase R&D spending; climate change / energy targets; reduce school leavers
Guidelines reduced from 27 to 10 – specific Guideline 10 on
poverty and social exclusion (under Employment)
Delivered through National Reform Programes with national targets
Monitored by Commission / Council with Recommendations
7 Flagship programmes – European Flagship Platform against Poverty, Agenda for New Skills and Jobs, Youth on the Move

14. EAPN: An Overview
EUROPE 2020 – Key Concerns
Poverty target, guideline, flagship initiative - a major achievement
But overarching EU economic governance strategy likely to undermine it: reducing deficits through cuts & wage restraint
Flagship Platform against Poverty potential to move beyond social policy, make progress on integrated active inclusion, child poverty, homeless strategies, funding for social inclusion and innovation….
But weak commitment to Social Europe beyond Growth and Jobs…
Unclear role of Social OMC and National Strategic Reports; complex new indicators taking focus off relative poverty and inequality
Low commitment to participation / governance: national and EU NGOs and People experiencing poverty.
Will it reduce poverty, social exclusion and inequality?

15. OTHER EAPN POLICY AREAS
EAPN: An Overview
OTHER EAPN POLICY AREAS
Services of General Interest (Sub-Working Group on Services; The Services Directive; The Services pillar of Active Inclusion; Campaign on Services Directive; quality social services; energy poverty).
Social Economy (WISE project – ), Bridges for Inclusion
Participation and Governance (The European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty; stronger engagement in the network and in policy making)
Sustainable Financing (Group on Sustainable Financing for NNs)
Anti-Discrimination (Mainstreaming Group; GA 2010 on Migration)
Gender, Age and Demographic Change (Mainstreaming Group; CARE)
Globalization (Mainstreaming Group; World Social Forum)
2010 – The European Year Against Poverty (NGO coalition; website – focus weeks; promo materials and events; Human Ring)

16. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
EAPN: An Overview
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
For more information, please contact:
Sian Jones:
Amana Ferro:
Vincent Caron:
18 Square de Meeûs, 1050 Brussels
Tel Fax
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