Commission européenne Active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market Michele Calandrino – policy analyst Inclusion, Social Policy Aspects of Migration, Streamlining of Social Policies – EMPL E/2 DG Employment, Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities, European Commission 20 February 2009 – EURODIACONIA

Commission européenne The active inclusion approach Objective: facilitate the integration into sustainable, quality employment of those who can work and provide resources which are sufficient to live in dignity, together with support for social participation, for those who cannot. Strategy: 1)Adequate income support 2)Inclusive labour markets 3)Access to quality services Key steps: - Council Recommendation 92/441/EEC - COM(2006) 44 and COM(2007) 620: a two-stage consultation - C(2008) 5737 and COM(2008) Council conclusions 17 December 2008

Commission européenne EU action To deepen the Open Method of Coordination in this area through common principles and practical guidelines and their subsequent monitoring and evaluation, Policy tools: legislation; the Open Method of Coordination; social dialogue; financial instruments. Open Method of Coordination The OMC is an essential tool in promoting best practices and ensuring the continuous monitoring of objectives at EU level. Social Protection Committee Nice Treaty (art. 144): with the role of monitoring the social situation and the development of social protection policies; promote exchanges of information, experience and good practice; formulate opinions or undertake other wok within its field of competence.

Commission européenne Common principles on active inclusion -Horizontal coordination: comprehensive policy design and integrated implementation -Vertical coordination: policy coordination between levels of government and active participation of all other relevant stakeholders Principles common to all three strands: (a) support the implementation of fundamental rights; (b) promote gender equality and equal opportunities for all; (c) consider the complexities of multiple disadvantages and the specific situations and needs of the various vulnerable groups; (d) take due account of local and regional circumstances and improve territorial cohesion; (e) be consistent with a lifecycle approach to social and employment policies so they can support intergenerational solidarity and break the intergenerational transmission of poverty.

Commission européenne Adequate income support Recognise the individual's basic right to resources and social assistance sufficient to lead a life that is compatible with human dignity as part of a comprehensive, consistent drive to combat social exclusion. Combined with: - active availability for work or for vocational training with a view to obtaining work in the case of persons whose conditions permit such active availability, or be subject, where appropriate, to economic and social integration measures in the case of other persons; - policies deemed necessary, at national level, for the economic and social integration of those concerned.

Commission européenne Inclusive labour markets -Address the needs of people excluded from the labour market in order to facilitate their progressive reintegration into society and into the labour market and to enhance their employability; -Take the necessary measures to promote inclusive labour markets in order to ensure access to employment is an opportunity open for all; -Promote quality jobs, including pay and benefits, working conditions, health and safety, access to lifelong learning and career prospects, in particular with a view to preventing in- work poverty; -Tackle labour market segmentation by promoting job retention and advancement. Practical guidelines: investment in human capital; active and preventive labour market measures; financial incentives; demand side policies; in-work support.

Commission européenne Access to quality services - Territorial availability, physical accessibility, affordability; - Solidarity, equal opportunities for service users and employees, and due account for diversity of users; - Investment in human capital, working conditions, and adequate physical infrastructure; - Comprehensive and coordinated services, conceived and delivered in an integrated manner; - users' involvement and personalised approaches to meet the multiple needs of people as individuals; - Monitoring and performance evaluation and sharing of best practice.

Commission européenne Active inclusion guidelines - Guarantee the relevant resources and benefits; role of Structural Funds; - The “ challenging triangle ” : work incentives, poverty alleviation and sustainable budgetary costs; - Ensure information of rights and support available; -Simplify administrative procedures; -Organise machinery for appeals; -Monitoring and evaluation under the Social OMC.

Commission européenne Active inclusion – follow-up – SPC working group on Active Inclusion: to discuss the timing and the framework for reporting and monitoring the implementation of the Recommendation within the OMC cycle – ISG: development of indicators (adequacy of MI, MWP and LM transitions, access to healthcare and adequate housing) – EU Network of national independent experts on social inclusion: first 2009 report on MI schemes, second on homelessness and housing exclusion

Commission européenne Supporting framework – Social dialogue: autonomous framework agreement on inclusive labour markets – Network of Local Authorities ’ Observatories on active inclusion to monitor and promote best practices on active inclusion policies especially in relation to quality services and to analyse the development and implementation of active inclusion strategies at the local level. –EU Financial Instruments: The Commission will encourage use of the provisions of the new ESF regulation to support active inclusion measures; – PROGRESS: mutual learning projects and peer reviews

Commission européenne SSGI quality framework – One of the ways to promote further exchange and dialogue on SSGI. The Commission suggested in the Communication on services of general interest, including social services, of 20 November 2007, that this framework should provide guidelines on the methodology to set, monitor and evaluate quality standards. –One source of inspiration in the development of the framework will be the principles on access to quality services set in the Recommendation on active inclusion. The framework will also build on the results of the projects financed via the PROGRESS program, on the output of the NLAO and on the paper stating the "nine golden quality principles" that the Social Platform adopted last June

Commission européenne Thank you for your attention For further information: