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Luca PIROZZI – European Commission - DG EMPL – Unit E2Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities ─ Unit E2

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The PROGRESSProgramme and the instruments

and actors of European policies forsocial inclusion

Visegrad Platform Visit 2nd July 2008 - Brussels

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Outline of the presentation

Social Policies: the role of Europe …

The PROGRESS Programme

The National Strategy Reports 2008-2010 and the role of the EU networks

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Social Policies: the role of Europe …

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... in employment and social areas ...

Main responsibility lies with the Member States -> subsidiarity

So… what is the role of the EU in these areas?

... a limited competence ...

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support to MSs in meeting commitments or converging towards EU objectives by:

Implementing & following-up EU objectives into national policies

Monitoring & evaluating application of EU legislation and policies

Promoting co-operation/coordination between MSs and with civil society

Encouraging policy ambitions and commitment

Strengthening governance & encourage “ownership”

Stronger links between EU & national, regional and local levels

Active participation of all stakeholders

Increasing comprehension & awareness + exchanges (PROGRESS)

Mainstreaming (Lisbon & SDS) + strengthening links with Structural Funds

A catalyst for change

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The tools

“strategically” complementary tools :

• Legislation (art. 13 & art. 138)

• Policy Co-ordination (Open Method of Co-ordination)

• European social dialogue

• European Social Fund

• Other financial tools directly managed by the Commission

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OMC: key elements

National Strategy Reports

Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion

Common Objectives& policy priorities

Commonly agreed

indicators

PROGRESS

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The PROGRESS Programme

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PROGRESS: a tool for …

1. Contributing to the strategic goals of creating more and better jobs and offering equal opportunities for all

2. Using the possibilities offered by an integrated programme

– new possibilities to improve policy coherence and efficiency through cross-cutting work

– at the same time, taking account of the specificities of each policy section

3. Establishing strong partnerships and increasing public trust

– success and impact will depend on establishment of partnerships with MSs & stakeholders, including social partners & civil society

– essential to take account of concerns & aspirations of EU citizens

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Sections under the Programme

1. Employment (art. 125 -130)Linked to the European Employment Strategy

2. Social protection and inclusion (art.137)Linked to Open Method of Coordination

3. Working conditions (art.137)Labour law, restructuring & anticipating change, strategy on health & safety at work

4. Antidiscrimination & diversity (art.13)Principle of non-discrimination and mainstreaming of the principle into all EU policies

5. Gender equality (art.2; art.13; art. 141)Principle of gender equality and mainstreaming of the principle into all EU policies

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1. Design evidence-based EU policies & legislation

availability of reliable information and quality analysis is instrumental in informing policy development

– Innovative methodologies to monitor labour markets; statistics & indicators on employment-related issues (cooperation with Eurostat + CEDEFOP); data & statistical tools on occupational accidents and diseases; implementation of UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities; promote cooperation with international organisations or third countries

Social inclusion:

– effectiveness of policies on housing and homelessness to promote social cohesion; stakeholders' involvement in implementation of the social inclusion process; description, comparison & analysis on social impact assessment tools

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2. Effective information sharing & learning

support exchanges of good practices, mutual learning activities and transfer of knowledge at national & EU levels

– setting-up of relevant observatories, networks of specialised bodies foreseen under EC legislation, networks of national experts and organisation of mutual learning activities; Reconciliation of work, private and family life; cooperation with third countries on globalisation; Equal participation of women and men in decision-making

Social inclusion:

– Peer review seminars + national experts

– Monitoring developments at national level as regards poverty and social exclusion

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3. Better integration of cross-cutting issues

integrated nature gives possibility of increasing coherence and relevance of EU policies & legislation in PROGRESS areas

• several cross-cutting studies (i.e. promoting integration of migrants in labour market & society)

• improving knowledge and understanding of application of EU legislation in MSs & promoting co-operation with MSs and other stakeholders (social partners, NGOs, judges, lawyers, experts)

• support to key EU networks

• Communication strategy covering 5 areas

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4. Greater capacity networks to promote and develop policies & objectives

promoting involvement of civil society, in particular through financial support to key EU-level networks

• networks active in fight against discrimination, integration of disabled people, defence of the Roma people rights, promotion of gender equality, fight against social exclusion

but also

• Network of women in decision-making

• Network of national equality bodies in non-discrimination field

• Network of local observatories on active inclusion

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5. Promoting high-quality and participatory policy debate at EU & national

levels

EU policy initiatives need to benefit from broad-based support at both EU and national levels

– organisation of high-quality, inclusive & participatory policy debates

– EU-level media campaign on concrete benefits of EU policies

– Promotion of debates on social inclusion and social protection, in support of the reinforcement of the social OMC

– Forums such as the Round Table on Poverty and Social Exclusion, the annual meeting of People Experiencing Poverty

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The role of the EU networks

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… a strategic partnership …

EU networks play a key role in representing, promoting & defending rights/interests of their constituencies at EU level -> an important contribution to make in context of the OMC

2007 PROGRESS Call for proposals launched with a view to selecting EU-level networks to work with Commission and receive EC support on stable/regular basis for 2008-2010

Framework partnerships concluded with key actors in the areas of: combating poverty & social exclusion/discrimination; promoting gender equality & integration of disabled people; representing Roma people

In area of combating poverty/exclusion -> 12 networks, including Eurodiaconia

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National Strategy Reports 2008-2010

• Guidance note adopted by the SPC on 5 February 2008 after consultation of stakeholders

• Insistence on stakeholder involvement in preparation + through all stages of policy cycle

• Submission: by 15th Sept. 2008 if additional time is needed for political endorsement, no later than 30th Sept. 2008

• NAPs/incl.:

– Suggested new focus: social integration of migrants & ethnic minorities would justify more attention

– But MSs should determine their own priorities on the basis of evaluation of progress & challenges that were identified

– EY2010 for combating poverty and social inclusion is announced

– Targets should be set

– Reference to recommendations of the ISG Task-force on child poverty

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Social inclusion networks & NRS/SPSI

• promote involvement and active role of national member organisations in developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating

• ensure that these take account of the experience of people exposed to poverty

• develop/reinforce contacts & cooperation with public officials

• support Commission’s analysis

• including through contacts with the independent social inclusion experts -> encouraged to take account of key stakeholders’ views in their countries esp. national members of EU Networks

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A. Preparation process

• a real strategic planning process or just a reporting exercise?

• integration with key national policy making processes

• extent and depth of consultations with stakeholders

– improvements in consultation and participatory approaches

– arrangements for involving stakeholders on an ongoing basis in implementation, monitoring and evaluation of plans

• involvement of regional/local levels of governance

• extent of public and political discussion (e.g. National Parliaments, media)

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B. Overall strategic approach

– overall assessment of strengths / weaknesses

– extent of progress since last round

– consistency and continuity of priorities

– increase in ambition

– clear allocation of resources and responsibility

– synergies with other strands

– clarity of overall objectives and targets

– extent of feeding in and feeding out and quality of examples

– quality of monitoring and evaluation arrangements (institutional arrangements; involvement of relevant actors; relevance of indicators; impact assessment; independent assessment)

– progress on governance arrangements (political leadership & responsibility; mainstreaming and coordination; mobilisation and involvement of actors; progress in involving regional/local authorities)

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Thank you for your attention

For more information

http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_inclusion/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/progress/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/emplweb/tenders/index_calls_en.cfm