February 29, 2012

1. For an EU Programme for Social Change and Innovation 2014 – 2020 Strengthening social protection, social inclusion and the fight against poverty By Conny Reuter, President February 29, 2012

2. The largest civil society alliance fighting for social justice and participatory democracy in Europe

3. Changing Times • A new Treaty with: • social clause (art 9) • gender equality clause (art 8) • equality clause (art 10) • The Europe 2020 strategy: • poverty target • employment target • Education target • guidelines for quality employment, promoting social inclusion and combating poverty But • An Economic Crisis • 5 million job losses, increased levels of poverty

4. We need a solid financial regulation that strengthens social protection, social inclusion, and the fight against poverty – Therefore the EUPSCI should: • Set a specific priority for promoting social protection, social inclusion and the fight against poverty – separate from the priority on employment • Replace the generic wording “social policy” with “social protection and inclusion” • Reinforce the participation of CSOs throughout the lifecycle of the Programme

5. 1. A specific priority for promoting social protection, inclusion, and the fight against poverty separate from the priority on employment Why? • 116 million people in the EU are at risk of social exclusion and poverty: • Some may never enter employment • Some need targeted, specific support to enter employment (active inclusion) • Levels of working poor are increasing Other EU strategies and programmes recognise the need to separate employment and social inclusion • The Europe 2020 strategy: • Requires that 20 million are lifted out of poverty by 2020 • Foresees separate objectives on employment and social inclusion • The ESF identifies “social inclusion and combating poverty” as one of its four thematic objectives and has a earmarking of 20% of the fund • active inclusion is distinguished from employment policy

6. 2. Replace the generic wording “Social Policy” with “social protection, inclusion and fight against poverty” Why? • The term social policy is too vague: to ensure the proper allocation of funds it is important to explicitly highlight the three dimensions to social policy (social protection, social inclusion, and combating poverty) • The current Progress programme that is the predecessor of EUPSCI uses this wording

7. 3. Reinforce the participation of CSOs throughout the whole life cycle of the Program through easier access and better targeted objectives and actions Why? • The involvement of civil society organisations is crucial: • to achieve good governance, mutual learning and social innovation • to reach the social objectives of Europe 2020 strategy • To ensure access to funding • To build on the experience of the current Progress programme • To be in line with the article 11 of the treaty on civil dialogue

8. To achieve a solid financial regulation that commits the EU to strengthening social protection, social inclusion and the fight against poverty see Social Platform’s full list of amendments to the Proposal on “EU Program for Social Change and Innovation 2014 – 2020”