EUISG and Policy Update EXCO March 2015

1. EUISG and Policy Update EXCO March 2015 Sian Jones, Policy Coordinator, European Anti Poverty Network

2. Outline • The Policy Context – Juncker’s priorities • Institutional frame - Commission reorganization • What impact on Europe 2020 and the Semester? • EAPN EUISG Approach and Work Programme

3. Juncker’s Priorities Dominate Agenda • Juncker’s Political Guidelines dominant driver: growth, jobs and investment – but not social investment, flexible fiscal consolidation • Commission Work Programme 2015 pledges ‘less interference in daily lives, making a difference on economic/social challenges’ • 23 new initiatives and controversial withdrawal of key ‘stuck initiatives’ like the Maternity Leave Directive if no progress.. • Investment Plan for Europe – 315 billion over next 3 years through leverage of mainly private finances in infrastructure. • Reinforcing the Single Market – digital/telecommunications and European Energy Union – securing supply not energy poverty • Fairer approach to Taxation – tax evasion/ corporate tax bases. • European Agenda on Migration – focus on skilled migrants, cooperation on Fortress Europe but action on human trafficking. • Deeper Economic and Monetary Union – reinforcing the 6 pack. • In social area: long-term unemployment and mobility, youth guarantee and employment initiative, with front-loaded SF funding.

4. Impact of Commission Reorganization • Key Commissioners:Vice Presidents: Dombrovskis (Euro + Semester), Timmermans (better regulation) • Unclear implications for Commissioner Thyssen • DG Employment - Social Inclusion gone from title and low visibility in priorities • Reorganization of DG Employment to fit new priorities – 5 new pillars – EU governance, employment, skills, mobility, social affairs, investment. • Social inclusion to come together with disability – with focus on ‘vulnerable groups’, social investment/ protection. • Structural Funds Geographical Desks to be redistributed within the 5 key policy areas: ‘to keep feet on the ground’.

5. Where is Europe 2020 and the Semester? • Worrying shift awayfrom Europe 2020 = Barroso’s baby.. • AnnualGrowth Survey 2015 priorities: Investment package 2) Structural Reforms – internalmarket/liberalisation, 3) more flexible fiscal consolidation • Almost no mention of Europe 2020, poverty and othertargets, social investment or social dimension. • Mid-TermReviewpostponedfrom 2015 to end of 2015/2016, withlimited consultation summaryjustpublished in March 2015. • New Commission re-organizationreflectschangingstatus– active inclusion also ‘lost’ replaced by social investment. • However, Structural Funds have to deliver on Europe 2020 priorities: 20% on social inclusion and poverty • Greek Elections rejection of austerity– a game changer?

6. European Semester Process continues • EuropeanSemesteris dominant but used to deliverJuncker’spriorities+ reinforceeconomicgovernance • Basic processon the Semester the same for 2015 • NRPsprepared by end of April • CSRs by Commission/Council – End of May/June • Implementation -MS/ budget surveillance in October. • AGS 2016 in November 2015 • Main change: New Integrated Guidelines, and Country reports reviewingprogres on CSRsnowpublishedearly in March – chance to engage? • National Social Reports planned but unclearrole?

7. Some Good News on Participation? • Recognition of need for ‘increasing ownership and accountability’ in AGS • Increased pressure by Commission for stakeholder involvement and use of ESOs • Positive examples of engagement of Commission on CSRs EAPN – IE, PT, ES.. • Support from Dombrovskis and cabinet? • But New ‘Guidelines’ Recital 6 – participation to support implementation

8. EAPN Joint Action 2014 • Members engage in NRP/CSR • Input/conference on Mid-Term Review consultation • Lobbying at Annual Convention/ letters to EPSCO • Successful EP Semester Alliance hearing – Dec 3 • Response to AGS: fresh start or broken promises • Demonstrate Europe 2020 is relevant with poverty target at centre • Public investment for quality jobs, also in service/NGO • Jobs alone not sufficient – social investment/protection • Reinforce social standards, not austerity and race to the bottom • Put social and economic indicators on a par • Make civil society partners in design as well as implementation.

9. EAPN Action and Approach • Increased direct lobbying: • Meetings of Bureau with Juncker and Thyssen’s cabinet, and with Dombrovskis. • DG Employment Director General – M. Servoz on Semester Alliance. • Increased working with EP cross-party grouping including on AGS report on the European Semester (Prieto) with significant proposals taken on

10. EUISG Work Programme 2015: Goals • Contribute to the Mid-Term Review supporting a better delivery of Europe 2020 on poverty and participation. • Build capacity and achieve more meaningful impactful engagement • Monitor trends and support progress towards an effective integrated strategy to fight poverty, based on access to rights, resources, services • Monitor trends and support the implementation of the Social Investment Package, particularly integrated active inclusion, investing in children and combating homelessness. • Support the promotion of social innovation in antipoverty policy, drawing on local bottom-up approaches. • Work to ensure that the 20% of ESF conditionality is implemented based on an anti-poverty strategy, including integrated active inclusion, and that anti-poverty organisations are involved in the design, evaluation and delivery with the implementation of the Code of Practice.

11. EUISG Work Programme 2015: Outputs • 3 EUISG meetings: February, July with GA/SA/EXCO, Oct with policy conference chaired by Steering Group. • Europe 2020 and the European Semester core work: engaging and monitoring at EU and national level: • National level: members engage/input and review together. • EU Level: • Updated Tool Kit on Europe 2020 and capacity building exchange on the European Semester: Feb/March • EU synthesis report and alternative proposals CSRs : March • Assessment report and proposals on the NRPs assessing delivery the poverty, employment and education targets and participation. Sept • Awareness-raising Project on Europe 2020 – 5 grants of 6.000 with 20% co-financing and rest with 1000 – 10% coo-financing including several Social Situation/shadow

12. EUISG Work Programme 2015: Outputs • Advocacy follow up actions: Letters to Council EPSCO, advocacy actions on Mid-Term ReviewMeetings with Commission/EP. • Engagement in European Platform Against Poverty and Annual Convention- stakeholder meetings and with members including participation in workshops/plenaries and side events. • Common Awareness-raising action on Living Wages and development of common communication tools/input to LT Unemployment consultation. • Access to Services: Exchange and Learning session and mapping access to affordable services. • Policy Conference: on Way forward from Mid-Term Review/Semester reform. • 2 Policy Task Forces – 1) Monitoring 20% of ESF on poverty and 2) Importance of Social Innovation in antipoverty practice: meeting 3 times for 1 day with the participation of 6 members.

13. Questions/Discussion • How can we work better together to have more impact on the Semester/Europe 2020? How else to get poverty on the agenda? • How can national networks/European Organisations better use the Semester process at national level to get results? • What should be our approach to the new investment approach/priorities?

14. Thank you for your attention! For more information contact Sian Jones, EAPN Policy Coordinator Sian.jones@eapn.eu