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EU Policy Update July 2018

7a. EU Policy Update July 2018. Sian Jones Policy Coordinator European Anti- Poverty Network. www.eapn.eu. www.eapn.eu. 7a. Outline. The Context EPSR – Latest Developments Social Fairness Package – EAPN Position/ Priorities EAPN Action and Next Steps Post 2020 – where now?.

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EU Policy Update July 2018

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  1. 7a EU Policy Update July 2018 Sian Jones Policy Coordinator European Anti-Poverty Network www.eapn.eu www.eapn.eu

  2. 7a Outline • The Context • EPSR – Latest Developments • Social Fairness Package – EAPN Position/ Priorities • EAPN Action and Next Steps • Post 2020 – where now?

  3. 7a The Context • +ELECTIONS: Populist Spring?: Italy: (R/L? Coalition-Five Star + Salvini’s League) Hungary: (Orban back, fair vote?), Spain: (Rajoy resigns after corruption scandals), Sweden in September (will Social Democrats hold?), Germany (Merkel weakened in new Grand Coalition). • BREXIT: Unrealistic UK Article 50 proposals. Main blocks: Customs Union, N.Ireland, Mobility/Migration • GREXIT: Reducing unemployment, but still highest levels of poverty/inequality. Agreement on debt, but ECB & IMF still pushing for austerity to ‘secure gains’ • MIGRATION: Increasing tensions as Salvini stops NGO boats, with Spain providing support. EU countries focusing on returns and prevention of migration in reform of the asylum system. • JUNE COUNCIL:All night session agrees partial Conclusions on Migration (Preventing illegal migration/disembarkation centres, voluntary relocation and continuing Dublin reform). Security and Defence; Jobs/Growth/Competiveness (endorsed CSRs – fight against tax evasion!) • EUROPEAN COMMISSION WORK PROGRAMME: EPSR - Social Fairness Package • THE FUTURE: Brexit, Migration and EU budget dominate. Waiting for new European Commission and Parliament (elections May 2019)…

  4. 7a European Pillar on Social Rights – Latest Developments – Social Fairness! • Inter-institutional Proclamation: – officiallyadopted in Gothenburgon 17 November 2017 by Council and the EP; endorsed by Council on 14-15 December 2017 • 13 March: Main new initiative: Social Fairness Package! • Communication on monitoring the implementation of EPSR (Semester and EU funds) • A proposal for a Council Recommendation: Access to social protection for all workers (Austrian Presidency to take forward). • Regulation establish a European Labour Authority and European Social Security Number (delay) • 27 June: Bulgarian Presidency EPSCO: High level conference – EPSR: Working Together for results – Tripartite with Social Platform representing NGOs • Implementation is underway: mainly by mainstreaming the Pillar (Social Scoreboard) through the European Semester, and through the MFF and separate action on the specific areas above • What results????? .

  5. 7a Social Fairness Package – EAPN Position Paper • Welcome SFP, but disappointed in retreat away from hard law… what impact? • Important role for Semester, but concerns re dominant stability and growth undermining social rights, Role of scoreboard? Principles? • Welcome delivery through EU funds, but concern of cuts in Cohesion/ ESF+/focus on poverty. • Important R to increase Social Protection for precarious workers, but narrow focus on work, and no explicit commitment to public investment/systems. • Useful European Labour Authority but more for institutional coordination than better rights • Civil society engagement – increased focus, but more on ‘delivery through social services’. Key Messages • Adopt a clear Road Map/Action plan delivered through the Semester • Support the Council Recommendation on Access to SP as 1st step. • Ensure progress towards an EU framework Directive to guarantee adequate MI • Not a cent less for Cohesion, 30% of ESF dedicated to fight against poverty • Make partnership with CSO a reality in EU and national processes. .

  6. 7a EAPN Action and Next Steps: Implementation in the Semester Active engagement with European Institutions and National Governments to lobby for the EPSR principles (particularly the 5 priority ones for EAPN) and Social Scoreboard to be fully integrated in the processes of the European Semester, plus monitoring at EU and national level: • Annual Growth Survey and Joint Employment Report:input letter to President Juncker with Key Messages, quick reaction, and full response to the Package • Country Reports: national input based on Poverty Watch; review in EU ISG meeting (March 2018); written email feedback; EU synthesis report; national & EU advocacy on messages • National Reform Programmes:national input based on Poverty Watch & Country Report; review in EU ISG meeting (June 2018); written response to questionnaire; EU synthesis report; national and EU advocacy on Key Messages • Country-Specific Recommendations: input to assessment table prepared by the staff team, national and EU advocacy • Integrated Guidelines: input to European Parliament report, on an ad-hoc basis • All year: letters to Council, organising EU and national events, engaging with advisory opinions (EESC, SPC, EMCO), lobbying and advocacy at national and EU level; organising events

  7. 7a EAPN Action and Next Steps: EU joint action! March-Dec 2018 All year:implementation through the European Semester – Country Report, NRP, CSR, AGS • March-July - Social Fairness Package: briefing, full response, dissemination, advocacy • 20 March – meeting EC Vice-President for Social Dialogue Valdis Dombrovskis (Brussels) • 15 April- Social Scoreboard: meeting with ISG chair – no change! • 17 April – DG Employment conference on the Social Pillar and the European Semester (Brussels) • 27 April – Annual Convention Inclusive Growth: Key Messages;workshops, side-event: Future of Work (SP), and follow-up, • 5 July - EAPN Policy Conference: on Access to Social Protection for all • July-Dec: Austrian Presidency – coordinated work with Social Platform on Rec on Access to SP. • 27-29 September: EAPN conference – Implementing the Social Pillar/EAPN AT/Vienna • 29 Nov: Anniversary conference EPSR in Portugal? - (Social Platform/PT Govt/EAPN PT?) • Position paper on Quality and Inclusive Education: draft / adopt position, PEP Meeting Nov

  8. 7a Taking Action at the National Level: Timeline March – Dec 2018 National level: • Deliver at least 5 national events on the Social Pillar, engage with / lobby key contacts (Government, SPC, EMCO, ESOs, desk officers, other?). • Focus on Social Pillar or 1/some of 5 principals ?: 1) Minimum Income (care with EMIN..) 2) Social Protection; 3) Access to Essential Services; 4) Fair Wages; 5) Education/ Training/Lifelong Learning. • Link it to the European Semester or EU funding? What can help? • Action Notes – guidance for events and other action on the 5 principals Social Pillar (see Doc) • Branding, Funding and Reporting events • Showing how Social Pillar can make a difference (EU law, EAPN concerns) - Working in alliances, joint advocacy, as well as events • Collecting good practice • Linking SDGs and Social Pillar – joining forces/building synergies! (See Doc)

  9. 7a Post 2020 Strategy? Where are we? Current State of Play • No proposal on the table – unwillingness to commit new Commission/EP • Fragility of EU: Brexit, Migration, Security – how to keep EU together. • Priority to MFF and EU budget reflecting internal priorities…. • Future of Europe – public consultation and Citizen’s dialogues leading up to EP Elections and EU Summit in Sibiu 19 May 2019 • New Reflection Paper Europe moving towards a sustainable future (SDGs) (Commissioner Timmermans with Stakeholder Platform. Seen as being proposal for post 2020? (Sept – now Nov?) – no consultation planned? EAPN Action • Reflection Paper/Policy Conference 2017, Messages • Future of Europe paper (EXCO) being finalized – input to consultation? • Key demands.

  10. 7a Post 2020 Strategy? Where are we? Current State of Play • No proposal on the table – unwillingness to commit new Commission/EP • Fragility of EU: Brexit, Migration, Security – how to keep EU together. • Priority to MFF and EU budget reflecting internal priorities…. • Future of Europe – public consultation/ Citizen’s dialogues leading up to EP Elections and EU Summit in Sibiu 19 May 2019 • New Reflection Paper: Europe moving towards a sustainable future (SDGs) (Nov) EAPN Action • Reflection Paper/Policy Conference 2017?: Explicit antipoverty strategy backed by EU funding, build on 2020 targets and beyond to SDGs and Agenda 2030/ Implement Social Pillar with civil society/ 6th Scenario. • Future of Europe paper (EXCO) being finalized – input to consultation? • Input to reflection paper or/and our own concrete proposal? What next steps? consultation

  11. 7a EAPN Action and Next Steps: Discussion • Q & A on the presentation • What national engagement/action on Social Pillar so far? • Buzz groups: National events and other action? • Joint action on Access to Social Protection? • Input to Policy conference – EAPN AT/GA? • Next steps on post 2020?

  12. 7a Thank you for your attention! For more information, please contact Sian Jones EAPN Policy Coordinator sian.jones@eapn.eu

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