EU Policy Update March 2019

1. EU Policy Update March 2019 Sian Jones Policy Coordinator European Anti-Poverty Network www.eapn.eu www.eapn.eu

2. 7a Outline • The Context • EPSR – Latest Developments • EAPN Action: EU and national level • What action in 2019?

3. The Context • 2019: Transition year for EU with E. Parliament elections, new leadership for Commission and Council in context of increasing polarisation - loss of EU ambition. • BREXIT: Multiple ‘meaningful votes’ with May’s deal rejected by UK Parliament, against No deal and support for extension of Article 50, but how will EU respond? • GREXIT:Agreement on debt, but ECB & IMF still pushing for austerity. Threat of new crisis with unsustainable requirements on debt reduction. • ROMANIAN PRESIDENCY: Cohesion – a common European Value! – but progress blocked on budget, Brexit, tax.. and challenges about corruption. • MIGRATION: Timmermans claims Migration crisis is over, but still no agreement on asylum or EU migration policy. • EU BUDGET: No budget agreed before EP Elections – key stumbling blocks – BREXIT, re-nationalizing AGRI, respect for rule of law and Eurozone budget proposal. • FUTURE OF EUROPE: New Reflection Paper: Sustainable Europe by 2030, public consultation and national meetings, culminating in Sibiu debate - 9 May 2019.

4. 7a European Pillar on Social Rights – Latest Developments • Juncker Commission keen to show progress on EU Social Priorities and EPSR implementation specifically. See implementation table here. • 14 Feb 2019: Council and EP agreed on EU Labour Authority to coordinate labour mobility and social security coordination. To be put in place in 2019. • 7 Feb 2019: Provisional Agreement on Transparent and Predictable working conditions agreed (Written Statement) now to be adopted by EP and Council. • 24 Jan 2019: Provisional agreement reached between EP and Council reached on on Work-Life balance, but reduced proposal and issues over adoption. • 6-7 Dec 2018, EPSCO: Access to Social Protection Council Recommendation was adopted, now has to be implemented by Member States. • All agreements reflect reduced ambition for EU frameworks, particularly from Council. • Commission say their job is done - implementation in hands of MS and stakeholders! • 20 Feb 2019: EESC SOC/584 Opinion adopted: For a European Framework Directive on Minimum Income (Georges Dassis/Group II) but employers against ! .

5. 7a EAPN EU Action on EPSR Sept 2018 – March 2019 • 27-29 September 2018: EAPN EU wide conference – Implementing the Social Pillar/EAPN AT/Vienna • Oct-Dec 2019: Letter to President Juncker/Lobbying on AGS 2019– stronger focus on Social Pillar and 20 principles. • 29 Nov: Anniversary conference EPSR in Portugal – Organized by Social Platform with support from EAPN PT, EAPN ES + EU speakers. • Jan-Feb 2019: Response to the AGS and Draft Joint Employment Report: Getting Results on Poverty and Social Pillar • Nov 2018 and Feb 2019: Peer Reviews on Minimum Income (principle 14) with DE and LT (EMIN and EAPN), latter with EAPN LT.

6. 7a EAPN Action on EPSR: National level • National actions by 9 National Networks (PL, NL, ES, PT, AT, FR, FI, DE, MT (see table) • Type of actions: • Organizing own event (PL, NL, ES, PT, AT, FR, FI, DE) • Participating in EU/government/ events (PL, NL, ES, PT, FR, FI, DE, MT) • Media action (PL, ES, PT, AT, FI) • Reference to overall EPSR (All) • Focus on specific principle - mainly principle 14 – Minimum Income – EMIN activity? (PL, FR, DE) • EAPN events to raise awareness of EPSR with Govt and stakeholders (ES, PT, FR) • EO actions? And at national level? • Others?

7. 7a 2019: Supporting EPSR implementationWhat Action? (EU and national) EU Level • 1 EU level event, and implementation through Semester/Poverty Watch • Follow up on progress on 5 principles – particularly MI (EMIN) and Education National level: • 2019 WP: Deliver at least 5 national events on the Social Pillar, engage with / lobby key contacts (Government, SPC, EMCO, ESOs, desk officers, other?). WHO, HOW and WHEN? • Focus on Social Pillar or 1/some of 5 principals – beyond MI ?: 1) Minimum Income (care with EMIN..) 2) Social Protection; 3) Access to Essential Services; 4) Fair Wages; 5) Education/LLL • Link it to the European Semester or EU funding/MFF? To European Parliament elections? To post 2020 and Future of Europe? Highlight in Poverty Watch? What can help? • Action Notes – guidance for events and other action on the 5 principals Social Pillar (see Doc) • Linking SDGs and Social Pillar – joining forces/building synergies! (See Doc) • Funding from EAPN contract

8. 7a Social Pillar National Action 2019- Discussion Points • What did you learn from your EPSR activities in 2018? • What worked/didn’t work; • if you didn’t take action - why not? What could help? • What kind of actions could you take in 2019? • Organizing or rebranding/planned events? Reference/follow up on key principles? Eg Minimum Income, Education, Fair wages etc.. • Monitoring progress/action by your govts? • Link/use in EP campaign? Or actions on Future of Europe/Post 2020/MFF? Poverty Watch? • What help would you need? • Updated info on what other networks are doing? • Templates? Other?

9. 7a Thank you for your attention! For more information, please contact Sian Jones EAPN Policy Coordinator sian.jones@eapn.eu