1. Europe 2020 and European Semester Policy Update March 2017
Sian Jones
Policy Coordinator
European Anti Poverty Network

2. Outline Reminder of the Cycle Key New Developments EAPN Action
Semester Alliance

3. The European Semester Cycle
Annual Growth Survey (AGS) 2017 – November 2016
Country Reports / Winter Package – February 2017
National Reform Programmes (NRP) and Stability or Convergence Programmes (SCP) – Mid April 2017
Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) – May 2017
Revision of MS budgets from Euro area (Mid Oct)
Bilateral meetings – COM and MS on implementation – all year
Annual Growth Survey (AGS) 2018 – November 2017
EAPN Action
What’s coming up

4. EAPN Key Messages to AGS
Propose a transformative social and economic agenda putting social objectives on a par with economic
Demonstrate a clear social dimension: social rights, social investment and social standards, with an antipoverty strategy
Democracy now! – Establish clear mechanisms to ensure effective NGO participation and impact.

5. 4a
AGS 2017 – any progress?
Annual Growth Survey and Draft Joint Employment Report 2017 adopted on 17 November 2017
Main message: strengthen competitiveness, innovation and productivity with Europe’s economic recovery
3 Priorities: 1) boosting investment 2) pursuing structural reforms 3) ensuring responsible fiscal policies – similar to 2015/6 but more on investment.
New priority to ‘growth with social fairness’ to deliver ‘inclusive growth’ and ‘achieving an economic recovery that benefits all, notably the weaker parts’
But overall impact? .

6. Some steps forward? EC decided not to suspend EU funds v ES and PT
Softened approach on austerity
Reaffirmed inclusive growth, mentioned Europe 2020 and targets and need to progress on poverty
Focus on social policy as a productive factor and call for progress on social standards
Support to increase housing including social housing
Recognition that tax has key role to reduce inequality
Explicit ref to quality jobs, reducing precariousness
Adequacy and coverage of income support .

7. Or back? Stability and Growth overarching economic framework
European Pillar of Social Rights not mentioned
Lack of rights-based strategy to fight poverty
Continued focus on ‘modernising social protection, increasing targeting
Increasing incentives to work ‘balancing concerns for in-work poverty with competiveness’
Continued priority to ensuring financial sustainability
No mention of civil society, although strengthened support to social partners.
See full EAPN response to Annual Growth Survey
and Joint Employment Report here.

8. EAPN and Semester Alliance Action
Dec 2016: EAPN response to AGS and Statement
Priotise Inclusive Growth by rebalancing economic/social objectives
Increase social investment in quality jobs, public services and social protection
Mainstream implementation of European Pillar of Social Rights
Develop EU poverty strategy to deliver on 2020 target
Make Civil Society equal partners
EAPN EP event 12 January: Can the semester help build a better Social Europe?
February 2017: Semester Alliance report/meeting Latvia
March 2017 SA AGS letter: Time for honesty, unity and solidarity

9. Country Reports – some progress?4a
Country Reports – some progress?
27 Country Reports adopted on 22 February 2018, (excluding Greece). Also includes: Country Reports Communication
Positive steps
Recognizes high unemployment, poverty and inequality as key concerns including ‘unequal burden sharing’.
Redistributive role of tax and social transfers in addressing inequality and impact on poverty.
Social investment key for a successful/lasting recovery
Pay levels should ensure decent standards of living
3 pillars of Active Inclusion mentioned (but labour market focus)
Communication from Commission
Fiscal

10. Country Reports – some concerns4a
Country Reports – some concerns
Primary focus still on growth, rather than balancing social objectives and Europe 2020 goals/targets
Says recovery supported by structural reforms and fiscal restraint – so more of the same?
Proposal to tackle income inequalities mainly by increasing productivity rather than redistribution.
Flexibility on labour market encouraged
Modernising social protection, with little focus on adequacy and as tool for activation
More ownership by stakeholders – but focus on local authorities and social partners – not CSOs…
Communication from Commission
Fiscal

11. Discussion and Next Steps
What recent developments on the Semester at national level?
Exchanging on the Country Reports –
1) General Assessment – what’s positive / what’s negative / what’s missing?
2) What 3 Recommendations?
3) Overall key messages from group
Finalising Fiche by 7th April
Your action at national level
See also: Toolkit on Stakeholder Engagement in Europe 2020
and the European Semester 2017

12. Thank you for your attention!
For more information, please contact Sian Jones EAPN Policy Coordinator