Annexes to COM(2013)83 - Towards Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion - including implementing the European Social Fund 2014-2020 - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2013)83 - Towards Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion - including implementing the European Social Fund 2014-2020. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2013)83  |
| date | February 20, 2013 |
· Energy Efficiency
The new directive on energy efficiency[77] encourages Member States to include socially-oriented requirements in their national schemes and takes into account the specific needs of disadvantaged people and helps addressing energy poverty by providing for smart meters and informative bills offering vulnerable consumers with clear, credible and timely information on their energy consumption as well as on concrete opportunities to reduce it.
· Improving access to information for citizens
Accessible information, such as on job search services, unemployment benefits, child allowances, healthcare, or student grants, is essential for equal opportunities and citizens' participation in the economy and society. To facilitate citizens' access to such information, the proposed Directive on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites[78] will ensure full accessibility of a set of public sector websites to all citizens, including persons with disabilities and the elderly. Further, the Commission will provide people with more accessible information on their social rights through user-friendly Social Protection Guides and will help set up services for people to keep track of their pension rights. In addition the Commission will support better application and enforcement of free movement rights through a proposed Directive to be presented in the first half of 2013.
4.3. Investing in Children / Early Childhood Education and Care
Further develop the potential of early childhood education and care (ECEC), using it as a social investment to address inequality and challenges faced by children through early intervention:
· Improving access to childcare
Access to early childhood education and care (ECEC) has positive effects throughout life, for instance in terms of preventing early school leaving, improving employment outcomes, and facilitating social mobility. ECEC is key to addressing challenges faced by disadvantaged children by providing early intervention. Furthermore, it is essential in removing barriers to the labour market participation of parents. The Recommendation on Investing in Children calls for making ECEC more accessible as part of an integrated strategy to improve children’s opportunities, in order to reach the Barcelona targets. Further to this, the Commission is launching a study reviewing how conditional cash transfer schemes can support the use of ECEC. The European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are stepping up their co-operation on policy initiatives to improve the quality and accessibility of early childhood education and care across Europe through identification of best practices.
· Reducing early school leaving
Early school leavers are far more likely to end up unemployed or at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The Europe 2020 Strategy sets out a target to reduce early school leaving to below 10%. However, 13.5% of young people still leave school prematurely. Reducing early school leaving is amongst the investment priorities of the European Social Fund, which Member States can use to develop policies in line with the integrated strategy set out in the Council Recommendation[79] of 2011, including through prevention measures, intervention measures and measures aimed at re-engaging people who have dropped out of education. The new “Erasmus for All” programme[80] for education, training, youth and sport reflecting the need for increased EU investment in education and training and its further implementation can support inclusive education initiatives.
5. Conclusion – the way forward
The crisis has underlined both the interdependence of EU economies as well as the great divergence in the capacity of labour market institutions and welfare systems to respond to shocks. It also confirmed the role of social policy and budgets for the overall stability of the EU. Although social policies are primarily the competence of Member States, the EU supports and complements the activities of the Member States.
Stronger economic governance and enhanced fiscal surveillance in Member States is now in place. This must be accompanied by improved policy surveillance in the social areas which over time contributes to crisis management, shock absorption and an adequate level of social investment across Europe. This also needs to be addressed in the on-going discussions on the social dimension of the EMU.
The Social Investment Package aims at reorienting Member States' policies towards social investment where needed, with a view to ensuring the adequacy and sustainability of social systems while linking these efforts to the best use made of the EU funds, notably the ESF. The Commission calls on Member States to pursue the actions and directions set out in this Package along the following three main axes:
1. Strengthening social investment as part of the European Semester
· Member States are urged to strengthen the involvement of relevant stakeholders at all levels, most notably social partners and civil society organisations, in the modernisation of social policy as part of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
· Member States are urged to reflect in their National Reform Programmes the guidance provided in this Social Investment Package with a particular attention to:
· Progress on putting an increased focus on social investment in their social policies, particularly on policies such as (child)care, education, training, active labour market policies, housing support, rehabilitation and health services.
· The implementation of integrated active inclusion strategies, including through the development of reference budgets, increased coverage of benefits and services, and simplification of social systems through for instance a one-stop-shop approach and avoiding proliferation of different benefits.
· The Commission will address social protection reform and the increased focus on social investment and active inclusion in Country Specific Recommendations and subsequent European Semesters. The Commission will moreover support Member States through enhanced monitoring of outcomes, and will underpin this together with the European Statistical System through improved and timelier statistics[81] on poverty and outcomes of social and health[82] policies.
2. Making the best use of EU funds to support social investment
· Member States are urged to duly take into account the social investment dimension in the programming of the EU funds and the ESF in particular for the period 2014-2020. This includes exploring innovative approaches to financing and financial engineering, drawing lessons from experiences such as those on Social Investment Bonds, microfinance and support to social enterprises.
· The Commission will actively support Member States in their programming based upon the guidance contained in this Package and further operational thematic guidance e.g. on social innovation, deinstitutionalisation, and health.
3. Streamlining governance and reporting
· Member States, through the relevant Committees, are urged to make proposals for strengthening the social dimension of the Europe 2020 Strategy, with a better connection to existing processes such as the open method of coordination and enhanced reporting on the performance of Member States' social systems. The Commission will further strengthen guidance and monitoring instruments, taking into account the existing macroeconomic, fiscal and employment governance tools, with a view to limit and address divergences related to social policies. Benchmarking and performance monitoring will be part of this exercise, building on the Social Protection Performance Monitor.[83]
· The Commission will work closely together with Member States in the context of the relevant Council formations, the SPC and other relevant committees to support these reflections and will continue the dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, notably in the context of the Annual Convention of the Platform against Poverty and Exclusion.
[1] Communication from the Commission, Europe 2020 – A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive
growth, COM (2010) 2020 of 3 March 2010; European Council Conclusions of 17 June 2010
[2] Article 3 of the Treaty on the European Union
[3] The number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion has increased since 2008 in 18 out of the 26 Member States for which data are available in 2011 (Eurostat)
[4] See European Commission Staff Working Document - Evidence on Demography and Social Trends – Social Policies' Contribution to Inclusion, Employment and the Economy SWD(2013)38
[5] As underlined in the Communication from the Commission, A stronger European Industry for Growth and Economic Recovery, COM(2012) 582 of 10 October 2012.
[6] European Parliament resolution of 20 November 2012 on Social Investment Pact – as a response to the crisis
[7] See European Commission Staff Working Document - Evidence on Demography and Social Trends – Social Policies' Contribution to Inclusion, Employment and the Economy SWD(2013)38
[8] Communication from the Commission, Towards a job-rich recovery, COM(2012)173, 18 April 2012
[9] White Paper from the Commission, An Agenda for Adequate, Safe and Sustainable Pensions, COM(2012) 55, 16 February 2012
[10] Communication from the Commission, Moving Youth into Employment, COM(2012)727, 5 December 2012
[11] For a detailed assessment of the budgetary implications of an ageing population please refer to the 2012 Ageing Report – at http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/european_economy/2012/pdf/ee-2012-2_en.pdf
[12] See European Commission Staff Working Document – Evidence on Demography and Social Trends – Social Policies' Contribution to Inclusion, Employment and the Economy SWD(2013)38
[13] See European Commission Staff Working Document – Report on Follow-up on the Implementation by the Member States of the 2008 European Commission Recommendation on Active Inclusion of People Excluded from the Labour Market – Towards a social investment approach SWD(2013)39
[14] See European Commission Staff Working Document - Evidence on Demography and Social Trends – Social Policies' Contribution to Inclusion, Employment and the Economy SWD(2013)38
[15] The social economy, also referred to as the 'third sector', refers to non-government actors such as community organisations, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises that undertake activities for social benefit. Social enterprises are businesses with primarily social objectives, and where surpluses are usually reinvested into the business or in the community, rather than maximising profit for owners and shareholders.
[16] As underlined in the Social Business Initiative Communication from the Commission, Social Business Initiative, Creating a favourable climate for social enterprises, key stakeholders in the social economy and innovation COM(2011)682 of 25 October 2011
[17] With a social impact bond, typically a private investor funds a social service provider to implement a social programme in return for a promise ('bond') from the public sector to reimburse the initial investment and pay a rate of return if the programme achieves predefined social outcomes.
[18] For example limited access to high quality education, limited access to additional learning support, lack of parental support or access to additional (non-formal) learning opportunities etc.
[19] World Bank, Human Development Sector Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region : Europe and Central Asia Roma Inclusion: An Economic Opportunity for Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania and Serbia Policy Note , (September 30, 2010)
[20] See Commission Staff Working Document SWD(2012)44 final of 7.3.2012
[21] Source: Eurostat, EU-SILC 2008
[22] Source: Eurostat, EU-SILC 2008
[23] EU Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review, December 2012
[24] Financial distress is defined as households having to draw on savings or run into debt to cover current expenditures
[25] Also see the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union which in its Chapter III on Equality establishes the rights of the child (Art 24) and of the elderly (Art 25) and refers too to the equality between men and women (Art 23) and to the integration of persons with disabilities (Art 26)
[26] Following the ETHOS definition: http://www.feantsa.org/files/freshstart/Toolkits/Ethos/Leaflet/EN.pdf
[27] “A social inclusion roadmap for Europe 2020”, H. Frazer, E. Marlier, I. Nicaise, 2010
[28] See European Commission Staff Working Document – Evidence on Demography and Social Trends – Social Policies' Contribution to Inclusion, Employment and the Economy SWD(2013)38
[29] Based on Commission calculations
[30] See European Commission Staff Working Document – Evidence on Demography and Social Trends – Social Policies' Contribution to Inclusion, Employment and the Economy SWD(2013)38
[31] See OECD (2012) Starting Strong III: A quality toolbox for Early Childhood Education and Care", OECD, Paris - for evidence on how pre-primary education policies affected PISA results (2009), and the divergence between Member States in investing in these policies
[32] See European Commission Staff Working Document – Investing in Health SWD(2013) 43
[33] Council Conclusions, 3054th Council meeting Economic and Financial Affairs Brussels, 7 December 2010
[34] Council Conclusions on Common Values and Principles in European Union Health Systems (2006/C 146/01)
[35] This should be based on the Joint Report on Health Systems by the Economic Policy Committee and the Commission and on the Member States’ cooperation in the Council’s Reflection Processes on health systems and on chronic disease
[36] EPSCO Council of 17-02-2012: "undertake work on the financing of the social protection systems, inviting other relevant committees to take part in this important work".
[37] Commission Decision 2012/C 198/06 of 5 July 2012 on setting up a multisectoral and independent expert panel to provide advice on effective ways of investing in health.
[38] Commission Communication – 'Rethinking Education: Investing in skills for better socio-economic outcomes'. COM(2012)669, 20 November 2012.
[39] Commission Recommendation of 3.10.2008 on the active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market (2008/867/EC published in the OJ L. 307/11 of 18.11.2008
[40] See European Commission Staff Working Document – Report on Follow-up on the Implementation by the Member States of the 2008 European Commission Recommendation on Active Inclusion of People Excluded from the Labour Market – Towards a social investment approach SWD(2013)39
[41] Reference budgets contain a list of goods and services that a family of a specific size and composition needs to be able to live at a designated level of wellbeing, along with the estimated monthly or annual costs thereof. Source: European Consumer Debt Network (2009). Handbook of reference budgets, pp. 5.
[42] See also the EU regulatory framework concerning passenger rights and public transport services, Regulation (EU) No 1177/2010
[43] The lowest price that a consumer could pay for a specified good or service, including, where appropriate, by purchasing 'bundled' goods or services
[44] Commission Recommendation 2011/442/EU on access to a basic payment account, 18.7.2011,
[45] The EU State aid rules need to be respected (and the possibilities offered e.g. by the General block exemption Regulation 800/2008 or de minimis aid Regulation 1998/2006 could be used)
[46] See Commission Staff Working Document – Social Investment through the European Social Fund SWD(2013)44
[47] As stipulated in the common principles on active inclusion adopted by the Council on 12 December 2008.
[48] Commission Recommendation 2011/442/EU on access to a basic payment account, 18.7.2011, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:190:0087:01:EN:HTML
[49] The 'Social Entrepreneurship Axis' of the Programme for Social Change and Innovation (worth EUR 90 m) supports the development of social investment market and facilitates access to finance for social enterprises by making available equity, quasi-equity, loan instruments and grants.
[50] Communication from the Commission, Social Business Initiative, Creating a favourable climate for social enterprises, key stakeholders in the social economy and innovation COM (2011) 682 of 25 October 2011
[51] Communication from the Commission, Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan, COM(2012) 795, 9 January 2013.
[52] See footnotes 38 and 39
[53] The proposals of the Commission for a directive on public procurement (COM(2011) 896 final) and for a directive on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors (COM(2011) 895 final) are currently under negotiation.
[54] Guide to the application of the European Union rules on state aid, public procurement and the internal market to services of general economic interest, and in particular to social services of general interest
[55] Commission Communication: "Solidarity in Health: Reducing Health Inequalities in the EU"; COM(2009) 567 final.
[56] See Commission Recommendation – Investing in Children – Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage C(2013) 778
[57] COM(2007) 62 final of 21 February 2007
[58] Communication from the Commission, Moving Youth into Employment, COM (2012), 727, 5 December 2012
[59] Commission Communication – "Erasmus for All: The EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport" COM(2011) 787, 23 November 2011
[60] See Commission Staff Working Document – Long-Term Care in Ageing Societies - Challenges and Policy Options SWD(2013)41
[61] In 2002, at the Barcelona Summit, the European Council set the targets of providing childcare by 2010 to (1) at least 90% of children between 3 years old and the mandatory school age and (2) at least 33% of children under 3 years of age
[62] By 2020, at least 95 % of children between four years old and the age for starting compulsory primary education should participate in early childhood education. Council Conclusions of 12 May 2009 on a strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020), Annex I to the conclusions (OJ C 119, 28.5.2009, p. 7)
[63] Council Recommendation of 28 June 2011 on policies to reduce early school leaving, OJ 2011/C 191/01
[64] Council conclusions of 6 December 2012
[65] European Commission and UNECE (2013 forthcoming) Policy brief - Active Ageing Index, available from: http://europa.eu/ey2012
[66] The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing’s target is to increase the average healthy lifespan of EU citizens by two years by 2020. It is part of the flagship initiative Innovation Union’ of the Europe 2020 strategy.
[67] Conclusions of the European Council (7-8 February 2013)
[68] European Social Fund (ESF), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Cohesion Fund, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
[69] http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htm
[70] See Commission Staff Working Document – Social Investment through the European Social Fund SWD(2013)44
[71] Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL, laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund covered by the Common Strategic Framework and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006.
[72] See Commission Staff Working Document – Social Investment through the European Social Fund SWD(2013)44
[73] The Commission proposed an investment priority dedicated to the social economy and social enterprises in the Cohesion Policy Regulation 2014-2020.
[74] Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
[75] Commission Legislative Proposal – 'Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and Council on Social Entrepreneurship Fund.' COM(2011) 862, 7 December 2011
[76] Commission Staff Working Paper – 'National measures and practices to avoid foreclosure procedures for residential mortgage loans'. SEC(2011) 357, 31 March.2011.
[77] Art. 7(7a) and Art. 10 in Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC.
[78] Commission Legislative Proposal - "Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites". COM(2012) 721 final, 3 December 2012.
[79] Council Recommendation (2011/C 191/01) on policies to reduce early school leaving
[80] Commission Communication – 'Erasmus for All: The EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport' COM(2011)787 final, 23 November 2011.
[81] Improving the standard SILC data delivery, delivering variables on deprivation and financial situation assessment at the end of the reference year, collecting data on monthly household income faster and possibly on an intra-annual basis, and exploring the possibility to develop a yearly module on coping strategies.
[82] By using the European Community Health Indicators (ECHI)
[83] Council document 13723/12: The Social Protection Performance Monitor depicts statistically significant annual deviations ('social trends to watch') in key indicators agreed as part of a dashboard of social protection indicators and triggers thematic surveillance on social trends to watch