1. Social Europe National Seminar on Investing in Bulgarian children with support from the EU Sofia 31 October 2014 Julius op de Beke DG EMPL, Unit D2

2. Social Europe The Objectives of this seminar To discuss the latest trends in child poverty in BG To discuss the Investing in Children Recommendation To find out where BG should focus its policy efforts to get maximum results To discuss how the EU funds can be best used to implement the Recommendation To have a look at some best practice examples from other EU countries

3. Social Europe Evolution of share of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion (0-17) between 2008 and 2012 (AROPE means below 60% of median income + severe material deprivation)

4. Social Europe The situation in Bulgaria - Increase in AROPE 2008-2012 - AROPE and AROP above EU average, AROP above EU average, children in LWI households above EU average, rate of children in severely materially deprived households beyond EU average - High in-work risk of poverty -Work disincentives for lone parents and second earners on low income (cost of childcare and articulation with benefits) -Low impact of family benefits in reducing child poverty, distribution of family benefits unfavourable to the poor, low impact of social transfers in reducing child poverty -Both child care Barcelona targets (below 3 and between 3-6) are not met -Need to sustain efforts in the transition from institutional to quality alternative care

5. Social Europe Poverty reduction effect of family and child benefits in 2012, children aged 0-17, is low in Bulgaria, just 25% compared to an EU average of 40%

6. Social Europe Barcelona targets to support gender equality Education and Training Formal child care by age category (2011) Children cared for as a percentage of all children in the same age category Sources: Eurostat — EU-SILC 2010 Notes: ‘Close to an objective’ refers to countries that had around 25 % of coverage for children under 3 (Finland) or around 80 % coverage of children aged 3 to the mandatory school age (Austria, Ireland).

7. Social Europe Public spending on early childhood education and care as a % of GDP 2009 Education Source: OECD Family database, Indicator PF3.1 2009).

8. Social Europe Social Investment Package 1/ guides EU countries in using their social budgets more efficiently and effectively to ensure adequate and sustainable social protection 2/ seeks to strengthen people’s current and future capacities, and improve their opportunities to participate in society and the labour market; 3/ focuses on integrated packages of benefits and services that help people throughout their lives and achieve lasting positive social outcomes; 4/ stresses prevention rather than cure, by reducing the need for benefits. That way, when people do need support, society can afford to help; 5/ calls for investing in children and young people to increase their opportunities in life.

9. Social Europe Recommendation: investing in children breaking the cycle of disadvantage Pleads for a rights based, comprehensive approach REC has three main pillars 1. Access to Resources (i.e. paid work and income support for families) 2. Access to quality services (ECEC,health,housing) 3. Social and legal child participation Backed by a battery of indicators

10. Social Europe The earlier you start the better 

11. Social Europe  ECEC for under 3 year olds has the highest rate of return

12. Social Europe The multiple benefits of quality ECEC ( to break the cycle of disadvantage you must intervene during the early years) An essential factor behind parents' labour market participation Strong correlation between ECEC use and women's employment rate Strong negative correlation between ECEC and ESL Fundamental role to address child poverty and break cycle of disadvantage because of beneficial long term social mobility effects Lack of access to affordable childcare creates disincentives to work for families on low income (can reduce net income by up to 50% in OECD countries) Strong benefits of quality ECEC for disadvantaged children (e.g. low SES, lone parent, Roma, migrant background etc.) 

13. Social Europe It is not just childcare but also access to other quality services Integrated activating approach: support is best given through collaborative multi-agency working of education, health and social services professionals. Health: focus on early intervention and preventive measures (pre-natal care, breastfeeding, vaccinations, child nutrition programmes etc.) Housing: growing number of families is becoming homeless or living in temporary accommodation (housing deprivation is a health risk, many single parents are overburdened by housing cost)

14. Social Europe Europe 2020 strategy for a smart, just and green future European Semester, annual occasion for monitoring and discussing with Member States progress in the required economic and social reforms. As the recovery is taking hold we see more and more emphasis on social issues. The dialogue with the MSs culminates in so called Country Specific Recommendation (CSRs) The EC proposes the CSRs but it is the Council who adopts them in June.

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16. Average progress by policy field during 2013 and 2014 Financial services60 % Fiscal policy55 % Incentive to work/job creation41 % Childcare40 % Health and LTC35 % ALMP33 % Poverty and Social Inclusion32 % Education30 %

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18. Policy Topic Countries receiving a CSR Income support BG, ES, HU, IE, IT, LV, PT, RO, UK Efficiency/effectiveness of support BG, EE, ES, FI, HR, LV, RO ECEC/childcare (access, affordability, quality) AT, CZ, DE, EE, IE, IT, PL, RO, SK, UK Inclusive education/ Early school leaving AT, BE, BG, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FR, HU, HR, IT, MT, PT, RO, SE, SK, PL Affordable housing NL, SE, UK Financial disincentives AT, BE, DE, EE, FR, IE, IT, LU, NL Reconciliation MT, PL, LU Youth activation BE, BG, DK, ES, FI, FR, HU, HR, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, PT, SE,SK, SI, UK Health BG, ES, LV, RO Roma inclusion BG, CZ, HU, RO, SK 2014 CSRs relevant for children

19. Social Europe POLICY ADVICE ON INVESTING IN CHILDREN (1) LOW WORK INTENSITY Causes General economic condition, low wages, financial disincentives for 2 nd earners/single parents,low activity measures, obstacles to childcare Policy Guidance Make sure work pays (gradual withdrawal of and in work benefits, such as tax credits) Parental leave limited to one or maximum two years Flexible working arrangements Tailored ALMP, individual case handlers, public work programmes

20. Social Europe Supporting parents' access to the labour market Target extra support especially for lone parents, second earners and after parental leave Tailored made active labour market policies through individual support: individual contracts, quality case handlers, lifelong learning, childcare in function of working time Subsidised employment, social economy Flexible working arrangements (hours flexibility and part time)

21. Social Europe (2) High rate of AROPE* Causes Low amounts of benefits, not redistributive enough, low take up, not adapted to family types at risk Policy Guidance Child benefits, housing allowance, legal minimum income Target disadvantaged families (lone parents, migrants, Roma) Means tested benefits but beware of inactivity traps, stigmatisation and administrative cost Best strategy would be selective or targeted universalism * below 60% of median income + severe material deprivation

22. Social Europe (3) Affordability and access to ECEC Causes High cost, insufficient capacity and opening hours, distance, short length of parental leave, lack of qualified staff Policy guidance Reduce cost for low income families, raise capacity Focus efforts on under 3, raise awareness for benefits of ECEC, Promote quality services (child-staff ratio, qualified staff, monitoring and evaluation Develop joint integrated services (social, health, parent support)

23. Social Europe Early childhood education and care: Improving both access and quality Widening access Increase supply especially in remote areas Address obstacles in access for disadvantaged children (targeted measures, removing financial barriers, free meals, mediators..) Improving quality Staff professionalisation Development of age-appropriate curriculum or pedagogical framework Establishment of legal framework and/or quality assurance mechanisms Develop joint services combining ECEC, health, social and parenting support Supporting new approaches through social innovation

24. Social Europe New opportunities structural and investment funds in 2014-2020 Clearer link with the Europe 2020 strategy and Country Specific Recommendations Minimum share of 21% for ESF in ESIF plus 20% of ESF earmarked for social inclusion Ex ante conditionalities: Roma inclusion, active inclusion, early school leaving Stronger focus on early school leaving and on preventative action in the early years Emphasis on partnership with NGO stakeholders (Code of Conduct, January 2014) Thematic objectives 8,9,10

25. Social Europe Employment (thematic objective 8) ESF - Access to employment for job-seekers and inactive people - Integration into the labour market of young people - Equality between men and women ERDF - Local development and neighbourhood services (ERDF) - -Education objective (thematic objective 10) ESF - Preventing early school-leaving - Access to good quality early-childhood, primary and secondary education ERDF - Investing in education infrastructures such as ECEC

26. Social Europe Social inclusion (thematic objective 9) ESF - Active inclusion - Socio-economic integration of marginalised communities - Access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services - Combating discrimination and promoting equal opportunities - Community led local development strategies ERDF - Health and social infrastructure - Regeneration of deprived communities - Community led development strategies

27. Social Europe Empowering children through quality services  Integrated intervention during the early years - Services combining childcare, education, health prevention and parenting support, re-integration in the labour Providing a healthy living environment - Social housing, debt management services for families - Public playgrounds, cultural and play activities A more preventive approach to child protection - Prevention of abandonment - Parenting support programmes (home visits) - Quality alternative care settings for children removed from their families (small size, foster parents, staff training…)

28. Social Europe Young Mums will achieve (UK, supported by the ESF)  Support programme for pregnant teenage (14-19) mums. It offers guidance and help with essentials like childcare and transport, in order to boost self-esteem, develop Maths and English skills and ultimately encourage young mums to progress onto further education or employment.

29. Social Europe FEAD: European Fund for Aid to the Most Deprived € 3,8 billion (2014-2020) for non-financial emergency assistance through partner organisations, €105 million for Bulgaria Two options Focus on food and material assistance + accompanying social inclusion measures (OP 1) Focus on non-material social inclusion measures 85% co-financing from the EU, reimbursement via unit costs or lump sum grants of maximum €100.000 Partner organisations are public bodies (ESF) or NGOs selected through public call for proposals

30. Social Europe Finding out more Training through national seminars in 12 Member States in 2014-2015: using EU instruments to implement the Recommendation "Investing in Children" for government officials in charge of submitting project applications for ESF funding. (So far six have taken place in IT, GR, ES, HU, LV, RO we will also have one in BG now and in IR) European Platform for Investing in Children EPIC (http://europa.eu/epic/) provides a repository of evidence based policy practices that can serve as an example for future projectshttp://europa.eu/epic/ New study on Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) in child policy by TARKI

31. Social Europe The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now! Thank you for your attention