Delivering on Social inclusion through Structural Funds

EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORKRÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DES ASSOCIATIONS

DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE

Vincent Caron, EAPN Policy OfficerEuropean Funding Network, London, 25

September 2013

Structure of Presentation

Presenting EAPN Key Findings EU context: a growing potential for social

inclusion & poverty reduction in SF? EAPN’s Perspective The Way Forward

Presenting EAPN

• Independant EU Network of NGOs

• Fight for a social EU free of poverty

• Started in 1990 – key actor in Social OMC

• Working with and for people in poverty

• Financial support from EU (PROGRESS)

• 29 National Networks + 18 European Organisations

Key findings

Only 17% of ESF 2007-2013 earmarked for social inclusion

Strong focus on labour market integration (vocational training, self employment, development of managers, employment services)

In the current economic crisis, increasing need for broader and more socially integrated projects targeting people further from the labour market

No real enforcement of the partnership principle : NGOs still sidelined from strategic planning & project delivery

A loss with the disappearance of the Community Initiative Programmes (i.e. EQUAL)

EU Context: A growing potential for social inclusion/ poverty reduction in SF?

Some opportunities in the current SF (2007-2013)

ESF: promoting social inclusion through pathways for the integration of disadvantaged people;

ERDF: investment in local development, neighborhood services, health and social infrastructure; community development strategies + supporting integrated housing programmes for marginalized communities (like Roma, Homeless people).

General Regulation: « Each Member State shall organise (…) a partnership with authorities and bodies such as any other appropriate body representing civil society”.

I - In the General Regulation applicable to all SF:The positive: SF should deliver on the poverty reduction target of Europe 2020 Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty as common objective

for all SF A more assertive partnership principle (NGOs involvement at all stages

of OPs; non-binding European code of conduct on partnership) Mainstreaming of community-led local development approaches in SF Simplified delivery system: encourage and facilitate the use of flat rates

and lump sums for small projects

The negative: The introduction of macro-economic conditionalities prior to the

disbursement of Funds. In case of excessive budget deficit, Structural Funds could be suspended by the European Commission

A growing focus on growth-enhancing priorities (competitiveness of SMEs, innovation, energy efficiency, ICT…)

A higher profile given to social inclusion in the future SF (2014-2020) (1/4)

II - Increased ESF role in reducing poverty & social exclusion The so-called minimum shares:- An increased and secured ESF Budget: a minimum share for the

ESF, representing at least 25% of the budget allocated to Cohesion Policy (i.e. around EUR 81 billion).

- A minimum ring-fencing allocation of 20% dedicated to promoting social inclusion and combating poverty.

Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty clearly identified as one of the four main objectives (including through active inclusion approaches)

An attempt to facilitate transnational co-operation Giving effectiveness to the partnership principle: explicit

reference of non-governmental organizations as relevant partners for the implementation of the OPs with a possible use of global grants and capacity-building.

Promotion of social innovation : testing and scaling-up innovative solutions to address social needs

A higher profile given to social inclusion in the future SF (2014-2020) (2/4)

III - ERDF : still focused on a growth and jobs model

3 “social-oriented” priorities: Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty (investments in

health and social infrastructures/ physical and economic regeneration of deprived urban and rural communities/ support for social entreprises)

Promoting employment and labour mobility Investments in skills, education and lifelong learning by developing

education infrastructures

But:A relative failure to mainstream social considerations

A higher profile given to social inclusion in the future SF (2014-2020) (3/4)

IV – The Social Investment Package (SIP)

Main goal: helping MSs to implement the SF’s priorities on social inclusion (especially ESF)

Guidance note to Managing authorities (with good practices of SF projects on active inclusion, social services, childcare, long-term care, social economy, social innovation)

A higher profile given to social inclusion in the future SF (2014-2020) (4/4)

EAPN’s perpective

EAPN’s work: promoting social inclusion through SF

Monitoring & analysis (EAPN Survey on the contribution of SF to social inclusion, 2009; EAPN annual NRP Reports)

Lobbying EU key decision-makers & support national advocacy work (policy papers, official meetings, Manual, toolkit, campaign…)

Information/ Exchange (training/ capacity-building; exchange sessions on national realities, leaflets…)

EAPN’s ongoing initiatives

Monitoring the implementation of SF through the European Semester/ Europe 2020: EAPN 2013 NRP Report

Intensive advocacy to influence the new SF 2014-2020:At EU level- EAPN’s response to the EC legislative proposals- EAPN’s proposals for amendment to the EP Reports- Joint EU Campaign EU Money for Poverty Reduction NOW!

together with other 19 social NGOs with more than 13.000 people signing the online petition.

At National level- Helping National Networks to get involved from the design of the

OPs and PAs : EAPN SF Toolkit

Ensuring that Community-led local development will deliver on social inclusion

An overview of EAPN’s work on Structural Funds (2014-2020) is provided in EAPN Mag n°137

Key messages from the EAPN 2013 NRP Report Widening the gap

1. Structural Funds still fall short of their potential to deliver on the Poverty reduction target despite a slight improvement.2. Although some progress is noted, support to integrated active inclusion approaches through Structural Funds is still insufficient and piecemeal which gives little room for investments in long-term pathways to quality employment and inclusion.3. The partnership principle is still not being really enforced at National level, which makes access to Structural Funds still very problematic for NGOs.

The way forward

Make Social inclusion and Poverty reduction a core and cross-cutting objective in all SF (by backing the 20%-25% and integrated active inclusion approaches)

Make sure that all disadvantaged groups are targeted (against the creaming phenomenon)

Ensure a full implementation of the partnership principle for NGOs both at management and delivery level (with a targeted use of global grants and technical assistance)

Promote social ex-ante conditionalities Develop social inclusion proofing Make transnationality more socially inclusive

EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORKRÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DE LUTTE

CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALESQUARE DE MEEUS, 18 – 1050 BRUSSELS

TEL: 0032 2 226 58 50 – FAX: 0032 2 26 58 69www.eapn.eu - team@eapn.eu

Thank you for your attention

For more informationVincent Caron, EAPN Policy Officer

Vincent.caron@eapn.euSee: www.eapn.eu