EUISG and Policy Update EXCO March 2015 Sian

EUISG and Policy Update EXCO March 2015 Sian Jones, Policy Coordinator, European Anti Poverty Network

Outline – The Policy Context – Juncker’s priorities – Institutional frame - Commission reorganization – What impact on Europe 2020 and the Semester? – EAPN EUISG Approach and Work Programm

Juncker’s Priorities Dominate Agenda < Juncker’s Political Guidelines dominant driver: growth, jobs and investment – but not social investment, flexible fiscal consolidation < Commission Work Programme 2015 pledges ‘less interference in daily lives, making a difference on economic/social challenges’ – 23 new initiatives and controversial withdrawal of key ‘stuck initiatives’ like the Maternity Leave Directive if no progress. . – Investment Plan for Europe – 315 billion over next 3 years through leverage of mainly private finances in infrastructure. – Reinforcing the Single Market – digital/telecommunications and European Energy Union – securing supply not energy poverty – Fairer approach to Taxation – tax evasion/ corporate tax bases.

Impact of Commission Reorganization § Key Commissioners: Vice Presidents: Dombrovskis (Euro + Semester), Timmermans (better regulation) § Unclear implications for Commissioner Thyssen § DG Employment - Social Inclusion gone from title and low visibility in priorities § Reorganization of DG Employment to fit new priorities – 5 new pillars – EU governance, employment, skills, mobility, social affairs, investment. § Social inclusion to come together with disability – with focus on ‘vulnerable groups’, social investment/ protection.

Where is Europe 2020 and the Semester? < Worrying shift away from Europe 2020 = Barroso’s baby. . < Annual Growth Survey 2015 priorities: Investment package 2) Structural Reforms – internal market/liberalisation, 3) more flexible fiscal consolidation < Almost no mention of Europe 2020, poverty and other targets, social investment or social dimension. < Mid-Term Review postponed from 2015 to end of 2015/2016, with limited consultation summary just published in March 2015. < New Commission re-organization reflects changing status – active inclusion also ‘lost’ replaced by social investment.

European Semester Process continues < European Semester is dominant but used to deliver Juncker’s priorities + reinforce economic governance < Basic process on the Semester the same for 2015 – NRPs prepared by end of April – CSRs by Commission/Council – End of May/June – Implementation -MS/ budget surveillance in October. – AGS 2016 in November 2015

Some Good News on Participation? <Recognition of need for ‘increasing ownership and accountability’ in AGS <Increased pressure by Commission for stakeholder involvement and use of ESOs <Positive examples of engagement of Commission on CSRs EAPN – IE, PT, ES. .

EAPN Joint Action 2014 < Members engage in NRP/CSR < Input/conference on Mid-Term Review consultation < Lobbying at Annual Convention/ letters to EPSCO < Successful EP Semester Alliance hearing – Dec 3 < Response to AGS: fresh start or broken promises – Demonstrate Europe 2020 is relevant with poverty target at centre – Public investment for quality jobs, also in service/NGO

EAPN Action and Approach <Increased direct lobbying: – Meetings of Bureau with Juncker and Thyssen’s cabinet, and with Dombrovskis. – DG Employment Director General – M. Servoz on Semester Alliance. – Increased working with EP crossparty grouping including on AGS report on the European Semester (Prieto) with significant proposals

EUISG Work Programme 2015: Goals < Contribute to the Mid-Term Review supporting a better delivery of Europe 2020 on poverty and participation. < Build capacity and achieve more meaningful impactful engagement < Monitor trends and support progress towards an effective integrated strategy to fight poverty, based on access to rights, resources, services < Monitor trends and support the implementation of the Social Investment Package, particularly integrated active inclusion, investing in children and combating homelessness. < Support the promotion of social innovation in antipoverty policy, drawing on local bottom-up approaches. < Work to ensure that the 20% of ESF conditionality is implemented based on an anti-poverty strategy, including

EUISG Work Programme 2015: Outputs < 3 EUISG meetings: February, July with GA/SA/EXCO, Oct with policy conference chaired by Steering Group. < Europe 2020 and the European Semester core work: engaging and monitoring at EU and national level: < National level: members engage/input and review together. < EU Level: Ø Updated Tool Kit on Europe 2020 and capacity building exchange on the European Semester: Feb/March Ø EU synthesis report and alternative proposals CSRs : March Ø Assessment report and proposals on the NRPs assessing delivery the poverty, employment and education targets and participation. Sept < Awareness-raising Project on Europe 2020 – 5 grants of 6. 000 with 20% co-financing and rest with 1000 – 10%

EUISG Work Programme 2015: Outputs < Advocacy follow up actions: Letters to Council EPSCO, advocacy actions on Mid-Term Review Meetings with Commission/EP. < Engagement in European Platform Against Poverty and Annual Convention- stakeholder meetings and with members including participation in workshops/plenaries and side events. < Common Awareness-raising action on Living Wages and development of common communication tools/input to LT Unemployment consultation. < Access to Services: Exchange and Learning session and mapping access to affordable services. < Policy Conference: on Way forward from Mid-Term Review/Semester reform. < 2 Policy Task Forces – 1) Monitoring 20% of ESF on

Questions/Discussion < How can we work better together to have more impact on the Semester/Europe 2020? How else to get poverty on the agenda? < How can national networks/European Organisations better use the Semester process at national level to get results? <What should be our approach to the new investment

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