Ministerul Muncii, Familiei şi Protecţiei Sociale Proiectul Phare 2006 “Asistenţă tehnică pentru promovarea campaniei naţionale de conştientizare în domeniul incluziunii sociale” Social Inclusion in EU Harald Hauben Team Leader, Social Inclusion Expert

2 Presentation  Concept of “social inclusion”  Open Method of Co-ordination  EU social policies mid 2009

3 Presentation  Concept of “social inclusion”  Open Method of Co-ordination  EU social policies mid 2009

4 “Social Inclusion”  No commonly agreed fixed definition in EU  Often reference to ‘social exclusion’  Definitions vary  relation with poverty  Insufficient and inappropriate social participation or social integration 

5 Characteristics “Social exclusion”  Exclusion is related to society norms / context at a given moment  Differences between countries  Changing norms in country  Exclusion is consequence of decisions/actions of other people/organisations/institutions  Exclusion implies limited future perspectives of affected individuals/groups

6 Characteristics “Social Exclusion”  Individuals/groups experience different levels of disadvantages which themselves lead to increased vulnerability and ends with a series of multiple, persistent and interconnected disadvantages  = dynamic, complex and multidimensional process implying the denial or lack of resources, rights, good and services and the incapacity to participate in normal relations and activities most people in society have access to

7 Dimensions of “Social Exclusion”  Exclusion from proper resources (poverty)  Exclusion from labour market  Exclusion from services (transportation, housing,..)  Exclusion from social relationships = multidimensional

8 “Active Inclusion”  Introduced on 2006 through different ‘communications’ from EC  2008 EC Recommendation on active inclusion

9 Commission Recommendation 2008 on “Active Inclusion”  Objective : to guide EU MS in their strategies to tackle poverty  MS Active inclusion policies should target  Integration into sustainable and quality employment of those who can work  Provide resources sufficient to live a life in dignity for those who cannot

10 Commission Recommendation 2008 on “Active Inclusion”  Recommendations to MS to design and implement an integrated comprehensive strategy for active inclusion of people excluded from labour market based on  Adequate income support  Inclusive labour markets  Access to quality services

11 Commission Recommendation 2008 on “Active Inclusion”  Active inclusion policies require  Mix of policy measures in 3 strands  Co-ordination between agencies delivering inclusion policies  Coordination between EU, national, regional and local level  Involvement civil society

12 Commission Recommendation 2008 on “Active Inclusion”  Use Structural funds (ESF) to support active inclusion policies  Take measures to inform all citizens – including least privileged - about their rights and available support  Improve indicators and information systems  Monitor and evaluate active inclusion policies under the OMC in co-operation with the SPC / EMCO and with support of PROGRESS programme

13 Presentation  Concept of “social inclusion”  Open Method of Co-ordination  EU social policies mid 2009

14  EU has limited competence in employment and social field  MS face similar reform challenges in economic, employment and social areas  Globalization  New ICTs  Demographic change (ageing)  Instrument to support MS reform efforts  Political coordination without legal constraints  Voluntary self-evaluation process  Learning from each other  Flexible and decentralised method OMC : rationale

15 What is OMC ?  Method of EU to co-ordinate policy developments of member states in policy areas that are subject to the subsidiarity principle;  Created in 1997 under the EES ; extended now to several other policy fields (education and training, youth, social inclusion and social protection,...);  The ‘Social OMC’ combines 3 previous existing OMCs : social inclusion, pensions and health/long term care

16 European Employment Strategy (1997) Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs (2000) Social Inclusion and modernised social protection systems as key elements to achieve goals of strategy Streamlined ‘Social’ OMC Process (2006) Social Inclusion + Pensions + Health / LTC  Overarching objectives  Interact positively with revised Lisbon Strategy  Simplied reporting procedures OMC Background Strengthened OMC (2008)  Improve visibility  More interaction with other policies

17 The cycle of the Social OMC Common objectives and policy priorities National Strategy Reports Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion Commonly agreed indicators

common objectives agreed indicators > supranational strategic goals > guidelines & timetables > establish quantitative & qualitative indicators translating EU objectives into national/regional policies > National Action Plans Community Action Programme > promote cooperation > benchmarking > transnational exchange of best practice monitoring & evaluation > publication of European reports analysing & assessing the national policies > giving supranational recommendations Open Method of Coordination

19  Agreeing on common objectives creates… …political obligation …political legitimacy to reforms  OMC develops… …a partnership approach: partnerships between Member States and with all stakeholders …a preventive approach, avoiding costly mistakes …transparency of policies  OMC acts as a catalyst for policy development at EU, national and local levels Effects of OMC

Eradication of poverty and social exclusion Adequate and sustainable pensions Accessible, high-quality And sustainable Health Care and LTC Access for all to resources, services & Non-discrimination Access for all to resources, services & Non-discrimination Active social inclusion Policy coordination Stakeholder involvement Policy coordination Stakeholder involvement Rational use of resources Rational use of resources Quality Universal access Transparency Financial sustainability Adequate level OVERARCHING OBJECTIVES Social cohesion and equality for all Interaction between Lisbon strategy & Sustainable development strategy Good governance, transparency, stakeholder involvement OMC Objectives for SP and SI cycle

21 Social OMC : cycle  MS produced in autumn 2008 National Strategic Reports on social protection and social inclusion  Joint Report adopted by Council in March 2009

22 Presentation  Concept of “social inclusion”  Open Method of Co-ordination  EU social policies mid 2009

… : The end of a cycle

… 2010  Lisbon strategy ( ) : EU > most dynamic, knowledge based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion  European Employment strategy (by 2010)  70 % employment rate  60 % women employment rate  50 % older workers employment rate  Barcelona targets on child care facilities (2010)  90 % of children between 3 - schoolgoing age  33 % of children below 3

… 2010  Revised Social Agenda (July 2008) until 2010  Sets out the main policy actions and initiatives in wide range of areas (employment, social affairs, education, health, non discrimination,..)  3 pillars  Creating opportunities  Providing access  Demonstrating solidarity  7 priority areas (combating social exclusion)  Set of 21 policy documents (mainly soft law)  3 proposals for directives  6 communications

… 2010  Revised Social Agenda (July 2008) until 2010  Priority 5 : combating poverty and social exclusion  2008 EC communication on re-inforcement OMC  2008 First biennial report on social services of general interest  2008 EC Recommendation on active social inclusion  Plans to take initiatives  Improvement digital literacy  Broadband deployment in unserved areas  Accessibility information society for PwD  Financial inclusion  Report on Barcelona targets

… 2010  Social OMC  2010 European Year of combating poverty and social exclusion

… : The beginning of a new post Lisbon cycle ?

… 2010  New European Parliament & Commission  Impact financial and economic crisis on employment and social fields (Economic Recovery Plan)  Preparation post Lisbon strategy ( ) including new EES, new ‘social agenda’, new cycle for OMCs  Adopion treaty

Ministerul Muncii, Familiei şi Protecţiei Sociale Proiectul Phare 2006 “Asistenţă tehnică pentru promovarea campaniei naţionale de conştientizare în domeniul incluziunii sociale” Thank you

31 Social OMC : cycle  Three overall Common objectives

32 Social OMC : cycle  Common objectives for the 3 strands  Eradication of poverty and social exclusion  Access for all to resources, rights and services, preventing and addressing exclusion and fighting discrimination that lead to exclusion  Active inclusion of all  Well co-ordinated inclusion policies involing all government levels and civil soceity & mainstreaming into all public policies  Adequate and sustainable pensions  Affordable, high quality and sustainable health and long term care