1. European Pillar of Social Rights Contribution to the consultation process Combat Poverty, Insecurity and Social Exclusion Service
Veerle Stroobants
02/

2. Combat Poverty, Insecurity and Social Exclusion Service
an independent service established by all governments and parliaments of Belgium
in order to evaluate the effective exercise of the fundamental rights, also for people living in poverty
based on a profound dialogue process with people living in poverty and professionals in various domains
which results every two year in a report with conclusions, analyses and policy recommendations
for which a legal follow-up is ensured -

3. Fight against poverty, social exclusion and inequalities = guaranteeing the effective exercise of fundamental rights
the fight against poverty is more and more about obligations and conditions, favours and inferior/derived rights.
f.e. the attribution of the subsistence allowance is linked to a contract
evaluate the impact of policy measures on the respect of fundamental human rights, especially for people living in poverty: horizontal social clause (article 9 of the Treaty of the functioning of the EU)

4. Social policy should be strengthened:
social protection should be seen as an investment and not as an economic cost
European budgetary policy is having a major impact on national spending policies, including in social matters
within the European semester related to the EU2020 Strategy, the country specific recommendations for Belgium were critical of the social protection system
support the Turin Process and existing instruments (f.e. SIP)
the European Pillar of Social Rights as a part of the frame of reference to evaluate the National Reform Programs

5. Only quality employment is useful in the fight against poverty
unemployed people have a higher at risk of poverty rate than employed people
Belgium has nearly 3,5 % ‘working poor’ (some individuals) who combine multiple conditions of precarious employment: temporary jobs, low wages, involuntary part-time hours, odd working schedules...
Laken Indicators for high quality jobs to allow people to improve their living conditions in a sustainable way
publication of the ILO: Building a social pillar for European convergence

6. Merci pour votre attention! Thank you for your attention!–
Service de lutte contre la pauvreté, la précarité et l’exclusion sociale –
Combat Poverty, Insecurity and Social Exclusion Service –