1. Key messages from workshops
EUROCITIES
Social Affairs Forum
Key messages from workshops
Gothenburg
25-26 October 2017
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2. Key messages from workshops
W1 - Equal access to quality and inclusive education
Rapporteur: Marie Svensson and Matthias Marschall
W2 - Active support to employment
Rapporteur: Andreas Schönström
W3 - Equal access to work-life balance provisions
Rapporteur: Ricarda Götz
W4 - Access to housing assistance
Rapporteur: Susanne Bauer
W5 – Equal access to essential services
Rapporteur: Ragnhild Ekelund
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3. W1 - Equal access to quality and inclusive education
Cities are the best places to reach out to the people who need education and up-skilling (using special programmes)
Importance of an early, long term vision and investments in education
Cities can contribute to an efficient, transparent monitoring and evaluation to better respond to needs
Need for holistic, integrated and inclusive approach to tackle inequalities
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4. W2 – Active support to employment
Cities proposals for improved active support to employment: 
EU, national governments, Public Employment Services and cities need to cooperate together and share responsibilities
Tailorised and innovative services are needed. 
Coordinating employment and social services plus education and training is key.
Life long learning, VET and adult education for improving employability
Cooperation with private sector and companies (in job training, skills mapping, jobs opportunities)
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5. W3 - Equal access to work-life balance provisions
Cities acknowledge the need for affordable and diverse childcare services, especially before enrolling in formal education, during education and in summer holidays
Cities need increased funding for care services and training for a more diverse work force
Cities call for an improvement in the cooperation between local and national authorities for the strategic development and funding of care services
Cities recognise the need for legislation regarding work-life balance
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6. W4 - Access to housing assistance
Cities recognise growing pressure on social services and social/affordable housing providers in light of post-crisis legacy
Cities acknowledge housing assistance is needed not only for the most vulnerable persons (e.g. homeless, disable persons) but also for low income groups
Cities aspire to cooperate better with social services providers and public housing companies as they safeguard access to essential services and housing supply at local level
Cities call for decision-makers to consider housing spending as an investment in European economic frameworks (Stability and Growth Pact); and to remove definition of social housing from the State Aid package
Cities demand greater political support for construction of affordable housing and the ideas of social mix
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7. W5 – Equal access to essential services
Cities need to work in partnership with NGOs and businesses to provide essential services for all
Cities should adopt a family approach to provide essential services in line with the needs of both children and parents
Target groups should be empowered to work with the city, not only work for the city
All people should have access to essential services and this should be high on the political agenda of all cities and countries
Social workers as well as city politicians should be empowered to better reach out to target groups
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