1. EUISG and Policy Update EXCO March 2015
EXCO DOC N 6.1
EUISG and Policy Update EXCO March 2015
Sian Jones, Policy Coordinator,
European Anti Poverty Network

2. Outline The Policy Context – Juncker’s priorities
Institutional frame - Commission reorganization
What impact on Europe 2020 and the Semester?
EAPN EUISG Approach and Work Programme

3. Juncker’s Priorities Dominate Agenda
Juncker’s Political Guidelines dominant driver: growth, jobs and investment – but not social investment, flexible fiscal consolidation
Commission Work Programme 2015 pledges ‘less interference in daily lives, making a difference on economic/social challenges’
23 new initiatives and controversial withdrawal of key ‘stuck initiatives’ like the Maternity Leave Directive if no progress..
Investment Plan for Europe – 315 billion over next 3 years through leverage of mainly private finances in infrastructure.
Reinforcing the Single Market – digital/telecommunications and European Energy Union – securing supply not energy poverty
Fairer approach to Taxation – tax evasion/ corporate tax bases.
European Agenda on Migration – focus on skilled migrants, cooperation on Fortress Europe but action on human trafficking.
Deeper Economic and Monetary Union – reinforcing the 6 pack.
In social area: long-term unemployment and mobility, youth guarantee and employment initiative, with front-loaded SF funding.

4. Impact of Commission Reorganization
Key Commissioners:Vice Presidents: Dombrovskis (Euro + Semester), Timmermans (better regulation)
Unclear implications for Commissioner Thyssen
DG Employment - Social Inclusion gone from title and low visibility in priorities
Reorganization of DG Employment to fit new priorities – 5 new pillars – EU governance, employment, skills, mobility, social affairs, investment.
Social inclusion to come together with disability – with focus on ‘vulnerable groups’, social investment/ protection.
Structural Funds Geographical Desks to be redistributed within the 5 key policy areas: ‘to keep feet on the ground’.

5. Where is Europe 2020 and the Semester?
Worrying shift away from Europe 2020 = Barroso’s baby..
Annual Growth Survey 2015 priorities: Investment package 2) Structural Reforms – internal market/liberalisation, 3) more flexible fiscal consolidation
Almost no mention of Europe 2020, poverty and other targets, social investment or social dimension.
Mid-Term Review postponed from 2015 to end of 2015/2016, with limited consultation summary just published in March 2015.
New Commission re-organization reflects changing status – active inclusion also ‘lost’ replaced by social investment.
However, Structural Funds have to deliver on Europe 2020 priorities: 20% on social inclusion and poverty
Greek Elections rejection of austerity – a game changer?

6. European Semester Process continues
European Semester is dominant but used to deliver Juncker’s priorities + reinforce economic governance
Basic process on the Semester the same for 2015
NRPs prepared by end of April
CSRs by Commission/Council – End of May/June
Implementation -MS/ budget surveillance in October.
AGS 2016 in November 2015
Main change: New Integrated Guidelines, and Country reports reviewing progres on CSRs now published early in March – chance to engage?
National Social Reports planned but unclear role?

7. Some Good News on Participation?
Recognition of need for ‘increasing ownership and accountability’ in AGS
Increased pressure by Commission for stakeholder involvement and use of ESOs
Positive examples of engagement of Commission on CSRs EAPN – IE, PT, ES..
Support from Dombrovskis and cabinet?
But New ‘Guidelines’ Recital 6 – participation to support implementation

8. EAPN Joint Action 2014 Members engage in NRP/CSR
Input/conference on Mid-Term Review consultation
Lobbying at Annual Convention/ letters to EPSCO
Successful EP Semester Alliance hearing – Dec 3
Response to AGS: fresh start or broken promises
Demonstrate Europe 2020 is relevant with poverty target at centre
Public investment for quality jobs, also in service/NGO
Jobs alone not sufficient – social investment/protection
Reinforce social standards, not austerity and race to the bottom
Put social and economic indicators on a par
Make civil society partners in design as well as implementation.

9. EAPN Action and Approach
Increased direct lobbying:
Meetings of Bureau with Juncker and Thyssen’s cabinet, and with Dombrovskis.
DG Employment Director General – M. Servoz on Semester Alliance.
Increased working with EP cross-party grouping including on AGS report on the European Semester (Prieto) with significant proposals taken on

10. EUISG Work Programme 2015: Goals
Contribute to the Mid-Term Review supporting a better delivery of Europe 2020 on poverty and participation.
Build capacity and achieve more meaningful impactful engagement
Monitor trends and support progress towards an effective integrated strategy to fight poverty, based on access to rights, resources, services
Monitor trends and support the implementation of the Social Investment Package, particularly integrated active inclusion, investing in children and combating homelessness.
Support the promotion of social innovation in antipoverty policy, drawing on local bottom-up approaches.
Work to ensure that the 20% of ESF conditionality is implemented based on an anti-poverty strategy, including integrated active inclusion, and that anti-poverty organisations are involved in the design, evaluation and delivery with the implementation of the Code of Practice.

11. EUISG Work Programme 2015: Outputs
3 EUISG meetings: February, July with GA/SA/EXCO, Oct with policy conference chaired by Steering Group.
Europe 2020 and the European Semester core work: engaging and monitoring at EU and national level:
National level: members engage/input and review together.
EU Level:
Updated Tool Kit on Europe 2020 and capacity building exchange on the European Semester: Feb/March
EU synthesis report and alternative proposals CSRs : March
Assessment report and proposals on the NRPs assessing delivery the poverty, employment and education targets and participation. Sept
Awareness-raising Project on Europe 2020 – 5 grants of with 20% co-financing and rest with 1000 – 10% coo-financing including several Social Situation/shadow

12. EUISG Work Programme 2015: Outputs
Advocacy follow up actions: Letters to Council EPSCO, advocacy actions on Mid-Term Review Meetings with Commission/EP.
Engagement in European Platform Against Poverty and Annual Convention- stakeholder meetings and with members including participation in workshops/plenaries and side events.
Common Awareness-raising action on Living Wages and development of common communication tools/input to LT Unemployment consultation.
Access to Services: Exchange and Learning session and mapping access to affordable services.
Policy Conference: on Way forward from Mid-Term Review/Semester reform.
2 Policy Task Forces – 1) Monitoring 20% of ESF on poverty and 2) Importance of Social Innovation in antipoverty practice: meeting 3 times for 1 day with the participation of 6 members.

13. Questions/Discussion
How can we work better together to have more impact on the Semester/Europe 2020? How else to get poverty on the agenda?
How can national networks/European Organisations better use the Semester process at national level to get results?
What should be our approach to the new investment approach/priorities?

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