1. Ludo Horemans - EAPN President
Social Services – A Tool for Mobilizing Workforce and Strengthening Social Cohesion Prague, April 2009
Quality, accessible social services for the fight against poverty: a crucial need in times of crisis
Ludo Horemans - EAPN President

2. (European Anti Poverty Network)
What is EAPN ?
(European Anti Poverty Network)
 EAPN is an independent coalition of NGOs and groups involved in the fight against poverty in the EU.
 EAPN is a large network of 25 national networks of anti-poverty NGOs and grassroot groups in the EU
and 22 European Organisations active in the field of poverty and social exclusion
 Experiences from the European Meetings of People Experienc ing Poverty

3. what are we talking about?
Social services:
what are we talking about?
Services Directive 12/12/ Article 2 :
… excluded…
“social services relating to social housing, childcare and support of families and persons permanently or temporarily in need which are provided by the State, by providers mandated by the State or by charities recognised as such by the State”.
Exclusion of Social Services from the Services Directive (12/12/06): Article 2: Scope-
“social services relating to social housing, childcare and support of families and persons permanently or temporarily in need which are provided by the State, by providers mandated by the State or by charities recognised as such by the State”.

4. what are we talking about?
Social services:
what are we talking about?
EC Communication: Services of general interest, including social services of general interest: a new European commitment (20/11/2007):
“… the Commission will support cross-European bottom-up initiatives aimed at developing voluntary quality standards and exchange of experience…”
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Accompanying the Communication on "A single market for 21st century Europe“ Services of general interest, including social services of general interest: a new European commitment (20/11/07)

5. Quality social services: what do we mean?
1. Respectful of personal human dignity, security and fundamental rights
EU Charter and European Convention
a safe and secure environment
public information
independent complaints procedure
personalized relationship between provider and user based on respect

6. Quality social services: what do we mean?
2. Affordable, accessible and reaching the target group
social objectives >< competition, reduced public spending
leads to increased privatization
leads often to lower quality services
danger for migrants, asylum seekers, undocumented people  for all persons residing on the territory
clearer definition of affordability and accessibility

7. Quality social services: what do we mean?
3. Personalized, holistic and sustainable:
personalized: a pact between user and provider
holistic: a multidimensional approach
sustainable: a coordinated team approach

8. Quality social services: what do we mean?
4. Participative and empowering:
active involvement of the user
a more structured on-going involvement
objective: autonomy of the user
personal development of the user
participation in the services and in the community
confidence in own strength and power
an active participation governance structure in the management of the service

9. Quality social services: what do we mean?
5. Accountable, transparent community proximity services: an individual and collective dimension …
to promote more socially cohesive communities
an active partnership approach with all actors, including users
clearly defined and known guidelines and methods
clear and understandable information
engagement to deliver
accountability to the individuals and the community:  regular monitoring and evaluation.

10. Quality social services: what do we mean?
6. Investing in quality employment conditions for social services:
to value the “caring” work
increasing lifelong learning and training
to value existing competences
invest in quality employment conditions and wages
 = investment in a socially cohesive society !

11. Investment is Social Services
is more than ever needed
social services as an investment for EU societies
context of crisis: even more crucial to invest in them, but not really present in recovery plans
social services at the centre of …
social innovation,
sustainable job creation
supporting flexicurity policies
“positive activation” of the most disadvantaged

12. Investment is Social Services
is more than ever needed
social services delivered NGOs are the first to be hit, while they provide direct support to people on low income…
Structural Funds to provide better support
no discussions on the crisis behind closed doors, but more involvement of all actors of civil society
more support to sociale services
more involvement of civil society in an open debate on the multiple crisis we are living in

13. European Anti Poverty Network
What is it?
What does it look like?
What does it do?