4 a EU Policy Update March 2016 Amana

4 a EU Policy Update March 2016 Amana Ferro, Senior Policy Officer European Anti Poverty Network

Outline Ø The Context – The EU in crisis Ø Developments on Europe 2020 and the European Semester Ø Other policy developments – Employment and Social Ø EAPN Action – Europe 2020 and other policy

The Context: EU crisis continues q GREXIT: Third bailout programme, first review of it coming up. Simultaneously, Greece is dealing with waves of asylum-seekers are refugees reaching its shores. Pension cuts discussed. q MIGRATION: European Council Conclusions (18 February) – stem the flows and reinforce borders. Refugees can’t choose which country they go to. q BREXIT: Cameron manages to secure deal with the EU, which includes limited in-work benefits for EU citizens working in the UK. Referendum scheduled for 23 rd June. q SECURITY & TERRORISM: Top priority after the Paris attacks in November – tightening borders, combatting radicalism q CLOSER ECONOMIC UNION FOR THE EURO ZONE: 5 Presidents Report is still the main framework,

Europe 2020 – European Semester Annual Growth Survey < Annual Growth Survey (together with Joint Employment Report, and Alert Mechanism Report) came out in November – same three priorities: relaunching investment, pursuing structural reforms, responsible fiscal policies. < Europe 2020 in a separate box, not mainstreamed; some positive rhetoric about social investment, but undermined by the rest – coherence? < Joint Employment Report – detailed analysis of the poverty target – but what follow-up / mainstreaming?

Europe 2020 – European Semester EPSCO Council – 7 December < Discussion on the AGS: social and economic priorities are strengthening the recovery and fostering convergence < Conclusions adopted on the promotion of the social economy as a key driver of economic and social development in Europe < Conclusions adopted on social governance – social and employment impact assessment, strengthening the social side of the Semester, Europe 2020

European Pillar on Social Rights < Scope: Delivering a Social Triple A for Europe (5 Presidents’ Report); Social Dimension of the EMU; Euro area + others if they want < General line: ignoring social policy is too expensive for the economy < Content: Four areas: the future of work (digitalisation, uberisation etc); equal opportunities (employment of women=; links between social and economic development (social policies as a productive factor); social rights. < Process so far: 27 January – Commission holds Social Orientation Debate; DG Employment prepared a draft, rejected by Juncker – now in the hands of the Secretariat General; Alan Larsson – special advisor < 8 March: Consultation paper out, underpinning a public

Other Policy Developments < Pillar on Social Rights: Background paper and consultation coming up < Europe 2020 Mid-Term Review & 2030 Development Goals: Proposal to link the Europe 2020 Mid-Term Review with the 2030 development agenda; Commissioner Timmermans preparing a document for a “sustainable Europe” – end March (public communication? internal working document? ) < Mobility Package: Revision of the Posting of Workers Directive, coordination of social security systems; out before the end of the year < Work-Life Balance: A Roadmap was launched in August 2015, followed by a public consultation, which ended on February 17 th; next steps to be defined < Platform on Undeclared Work: Brings together the Commission, social partners and EU national authorities in charge of combating undeclared work; purpose: exchange information and best practices, promote training for staff, identify common principles for inspections;

EAPN Action on the European Semester / Europe 2020 < High-Level Event of the Luxembourg Presidency and the EESC – Common Social Values, Principles and Social Governance (November) < High-Level Reflection Group on OSE & Uv. A research: Further Socializing the European Semester: Moving forward for the social Triple A (November) < Semester Alliance Stakeholder Dialogue, with EC (Sec. Gen) & SPC (Nov) < Letter to the EPSCO Council, highlighting AGS, LTU, and Social Pillar (Dec) < EAPN Response to the proposal for a Recommendation on Long. Term Unemployment (December, also attached to above letter) < EAPN Response to the Annual Growth Survey & Joint Employment Report (Dec)

EAPN Action – Alliances and Other Initiatives < EMIN 2 – Application is being developed with Patrizia Brandellero and Anne Van Lancker + meetings with potential partners < Energy Poverty / Vulnerable Consumers – Response to questionnaire (energy poverty, indicators for it, measures to tackle it) < Roma Inclusion – Attended meeting with the stakeholder group; EAPN CZ responded to civil society shadow questionnaire < Social Platform – Participation in Task Forces (social standards, services, EU funding, civil dialogue, human rights) and thematic ad-hoc meetings < Investing in Children – EAPN supported a successful written declaration in the European Parliament (414 MEPs signed) +

Thank you for your attention! For more information, please contact Amana Ferro Senior Policy Officer amana. ferro@eapn. eu