1. AGM 2018 European Semester Workshop
Getting the balance right between social and economic policy

2. The European Semester today: What is it?
European Semester cycle
November:
Autumn Package
February/ March:
Country Reports
April:
National Reform Programmes
May:
Spring Package
June:
Country-Specific Recom-mendations
What is the Semester?
The annual cycle of economic policy coordination in the EU;
The main tool for EU to monitor progress of policies and their impact at national level;
A framework which involves the Commission, the Council, the Member States, and all relevant stakeholders at both European and national levels, including trade unions and civil society.
Why we care?
It covers some of our areas of interest: social policies, labour market policies, education and skills policies, migration policies
It concerns both EU and national policies
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3. The European Semester Today
More focus on social policies at EU level & the European Pillar of Social Rights
The reform delivery tool
Two main evolutions of the Semester since 2017:
A more social angle
More weight and incentives
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4. 1.1 More focus on social policies at EU level since 2015
Annual General Meeting
1.1 More focus on social policies at EU level since 2015
Country specific recommendations = what the Commission thinks should be reformed in the country following the thorough analysis conducted, particularly in the country report. They come at the end of the cycle, so in June.
This graph shows their evolution in the fields of employment and social policies since the beginning of the Semester (2011) up to last year (this year’s CSRs had not been published when this document came out).
In 2015 it was decided to drastically reduce the number of CSRs, and to increase the proportion of social CSRs, so what is interesting to look at are the three bars on the right which represent the evolution for the years 2015, 2016, Poverty & social exclusion
Source: Commission, Labour market and wage development report, October 2017
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5. 1.2 The European Pillar of Social Rights
What is the European Pillar of Social Rights?
EU leaders proclaimed the Pillar at the Social Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 17 November 2017
20 principles to promote fair and well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems
3 chapters:
Equal opportunities and access to the labour market
Fair working conditions
Social protection and inclusion
Social scoreboard
Implementation monitored through the European Semester
What it means in practice:
More focus on social policies in the country reports, with more room and a thematic box
More focus on social reforms in the recommendations
More weight for these policies since the Pillar is a priority for the Commission
An opportunity for our voices to be heard more and for our influence in the process to grow new consultations with civil society recently set up by DG EMPL
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6. 2. The reform delivery tool
What: Reform delivery tool to provide financial support for key reforms identified in the Semester
How: countries select reforms identified in Semester (recommendations?) and ask for financial help (budget of 22 billion €) to implement them.
transition phase with pilot project in Portugal
Why it matters to us: This is gives more incentive to comply with the recommendations and the Semester with financial support to implement the reforms advised by the EU. Thus, it is even more important to get involved so that the reforms promoted are the ones that really matter.
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7. Tools for eurodiaconia members to impact the Semester
How can you get involved?
Tools for eurodiaconia members to impact the Semester
After showing you what the European Semester is and why it is relevant to our work, I will now detail the tools you can use to have an impact on this process.
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8. Phase 1: Country Reports
What?
When? September-October
How? 2 ways:
Send your assessment of your country’s situation to the EU through Eurodiaconia
Get invited to fact-finding missions
Document title
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9. Phase 2: National Reform Programmes
What?
When? December-February
How? 2 situations:
A formal consultation process exists: get involved
No formal consultation process: contact the ministries directly and send them your assessment of past and future reforms
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10. Phase 3: Country-Specific Recommendations
What?
When? March-June
How? In 2 phases:
First, send the EU, through Eurodiaconia, the recommendations you want to give your country
Second, once the CSRs are published, send the EU, through Eurodiaconia (and your government) your assessment.
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11. Thank you for your attention!
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12. Document title
Questions ?
ROMANA
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13. Groups work
How can we best send you the information about the Semester?
How can we help you engage?
The EU will decide in November the economic and social priorities for the coming cycle, what are they according to you?
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14. Connecting faith and social justice through action
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