1. EU Policy Update October 2015
Sian Jones, Policy Coordinator
and Amana Ferro, Senior Policy Officer
European Anti Poverty Network

2. Outline The Context – The EU in crisis2a
Outline
The Context – The EU in crisis
Main developments – Employment and Social
Developments on Europe 2020 and the Semester
EAPN ACTION

3. The Context: EU Crisis continues2a
The Context: EU Crisis continues
GREXIT: Syriza won referendum on austerity deal, then re-elected but with reduced majority. Little sympathy from EU leaders.
MIGRATION: 85% increase in asylum/2,500 deaths at sea (2015). European Council enforces quotas – with relocated from Italy/Greece, rebellion from Eastern European MS.
BREXIT: New Conservative Government with absolute majority in UK elections, referendum could be delayed to 2017.
CLOSER ECONOMIC UNION FOR THE EURO ZONE: 5 Presidents report, move to joint economic decision-making - Social Triple A
JUNCKER STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH: ‘there is not enough Europe in this Union. And there is not enough Union in this Union’
ESIF APPROVED, BUT NOT SOCIAL: Main focus is infrastructure/innovation.

4. EU Investment Package: Update
European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)
Sets framework and money for 1 and 2 and provides guarantee of 16 bn to support the 315 bn fund – mainly private leverage.
Main projects funded: infrastructure, transport, energy, digital, with some investment in education, health, research and development
Main Developments
Political agreement – 28 May with EP vote on Regulation – 24 June.
Operational since September with project pre-financed by EIB
Road show around EU – focussing on major private companies/investors.
« Pro-business’ and ‘pro-investment’ – priority to infrastructure, innovation, energy eg wind farms in Denmark, but little signs of social infrastructure/education etc.

5. Progress on Social Triple A?
June 9: Commissioners Social Orientation Debate - Economic policy on a par with social, social convergence with EU Minimum standards….
16-17 July: Luxembourg: Informal Council Meeting of M of Employment, Social Affairs– social governance/Common Social values.
Sept-Oct: 2nd Commissioner’s debate delayed because of refugee crisis and subsumed in general session (Oct 6)..
Stakeholder Meeting with NGOs/Thyssen – good rhetoric but no concrete proposals..
Commission Communication on social floor/social agenda?
=? benchmarking social standards on minimum income/minimum wage/access to health

6. Common Social Values in the EU
Paper prepared by Fran Bennett and Sandy Coxton for Lux Presidency Informal Council.
Underlined common social objectives with Treaty base (Art 3/9) and common values of social model.
Key role of Social OMC, as well as Europe 2020 impacting on European Semester.
Social Protection systems not reduced to safety nets, with key role to social investment
Priority areas: integrated active inclusion – emphasizing MI and Services pillars, investing in children, tackling homelessness, health

7. Common Social Values in EU (cont.)
Recommendations reflect many EAPN demands:
Balanced Agenda –social objectives in economic
Key use of social and economic indicators and social impact assessment
Enlarged role of SPC with EMCO in EPSCO.
Priority to prevention as well as investment, adequacy/effectiveness of social protection
Commonly agreed social standards.
Mainstreaming Gender equality.
Guidelines for Stakeholders engagement

8. EPSCO Council – 5 October2a
EPSCO Council – 5 October
Social Governance and key messages on social policy reforms
“As we emerge from the crisis, social issues and employment need to be at the heart of our policies, hence the need to strengthen social governance”
Deepen social dimension to ensure upward social convergence – but ref to ‘necessary reforms to social protection.
Social Dimension in EMU build on existing instruments – indicators/social and employment scoreboard.
Approach to social policy reforms with emphasis on adequacy of income support and coverage linked to activation/integrated active inclusion – investment in key services – education/housing/health and early learning.
Discussion on social standards but no comments..

9. 2a
Employment Updates
Employability Package announced early 2015, then reduced to a single proposal for Recommendation on Long-Term Unemployment
Builds on a public consultation to which EAPN responded in May, together with members
Welcome elements: stepped-up registration of the unemployed to ensure better coverage, personalised approaches and tailor-made inclusion plans, single point of contact, close involvement of employers.
Concerns: missing references to adequate income support; no safeguards against negative activation and conditionality, no quality work; no explicit role / involvement for NGOs; no extra funding.
European Parliament already adopted their resolution through the fast track procedure;
EMCO (and SPC?) discussing it, EPSCO 7 December to endorse it;
CoR consultation for upcoming Opinion – EAPN invited

10. Europe 2020 – European Semester – changes
EU Stage: November to February: Focus on Euro area
Annual Growth Survey sets key priorities
Alert Mechanisms Report
Joint Social and Employment Report
Recommendations for Action in Euro Area
National Stage: March to July: Broader EU
Country Reports reviewing progress
CSRs proposed and discussed/agreed by July Council
Role of NRPs?

11. EAPN Semester/Europe 2020 Action
Assessment of CSRs
Letter to EPSCO and Council - June
NRP/ Semester Assessment – July-Oct
Letter to Juncker – Key Messages to AGS
Semester Alliance Letter – Get the Semester back on track – focus on Europe 2020 objectives
Input to EP EMPL report on European Semester and new report on poverty target and household disposable income.
Participation in OSE/LUX research on socialization of the Semester

12. Alliances – other actions
Follow up on EMIN – new funding proposals/ ETUC support action plan > MI directive.
Energy Poverty – vulnerable consumers’ group’ EPSU joint meeting/letter-Energy Commissioner
Roma Inclusion – participation in civil society ad-hoc coalition and EC meetings
Investing in Children Alliance/Eurochild: EP Declaration signed by 376 MEPs by 7 Dec
2030 SDG goals – CSO open letter to Timmermans on 2030 Agenda – coalition.
Migration: #weapologize – SP campaign on asylum seekers.
Social Platform task forces – on EU Governance, EU Social Standards, Services and the TTIP / TISA
European Youth Forum project on youth inclusion - input

13. Thank you for your attention!
For more information contact Sian Jones, EAPN Policy Coordinator Amana Ferro, Senior Policy Officer