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The “Europe 2020 strategy” is the EU's growth strategy for the coming decade. Launched in 2010, it aims to achieve “smart, sustainable and inclusive growth" through the achievement of 5 overarching targets:
Employment:
75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed
R&D / innovation:
3% of the EU's GDP (public and private combined) to be invested in R&D/innovation
Climate change / energy:
greenhouse gas emissions 20% (or even 30%, if the conditions are right) lower than 1990
20% of energy from renewables
20% increase in energy efficiency
Education
Reducing school drop-out rates below 10%
at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level education
Poverty / social exclusion
at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion
Eurodiaconia is particularly interested by the "inclusive growth" objective as well as the stakeholders involvement in the process. In these times of economic and financial crisis, austerity programs and budget restraints, the challenge to find the balance between financial, economic and social policy has pushed many Member States to forget the social inclusion dimension of Europe, and the requirement to involve stakeholders in policy making.
Eurodiaconia is following the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy through the European Union's seven "flagship initiatives" ("new engines to boost growth and jobs"), and working for a stronger engagement of diaconal actors in the overall process of the European semester.
To know more about Eurodiaconia's work on Europe 2020, please contact Clotilde at
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Eurodiaconia calls on Ministers to focus on social investment |
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28 February 2013
Today the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO-Council) is meeting in Brussels to discuss the Annual Growth Survey 2013 and formulate recommendations for the Spring Council, which will be held from 14 to 15 March 2013. Eurodiaconia would like to see a change of direction from giving priority to financial reforms and developments of the conditions for growth towards a Social Investment approach. Investments in quality and sustainable employment in the social and health sector are necessary to respond to growing needs and staff shortages.
We addressed a letter with our recommendations to relevant Ministers, calling on them to take them into consideration during their discussions. Please find the letter here. |
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Eurodiaconia sends key messages to the Cypriot Presidency |
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5 September 2012
Eurodiaconia recently handed a letter to the Cypriot Presidency calling for action during their 6-month Presidency of the European Council to reach Europe 2020 poverty targets. In particular we made recommendations on child poverty, active ageing and an integrated approach to employment. These key policy messages were in addition to the message Heather gave in Cyprus this July at the meeting of European Employment and Social Affairs ministers. Our key message from the Social Platform was that Social NGO's must be more involved in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of social policy actions in Member States if such actions are to be in any way effective.
To read the letter click here |
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Cyprus launches website for Presidency of Council of EU |
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28 June 2012
On July 1, Cyprus assumes its first Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The official website of the Presidency which was launched just this week; www.cy2012.eu features a calendar of political and cultural events under the auspices of the Cypriot Presidency as well as detailing the priorities for their 6th month programme. Below we have picked out some of those priorities we thought would be of most interest to Eurodiaconia members. They also have several Twitter accounts for those of you who would like to receive regular updates (see bottom of article for twitter info).
Eurodiaconia will be watching Cyprus to see whether one of the smaller countries in the EU can carry forward priorities on child well-being, intergenerational solidarity and implementing the Europe 2020 strategy by working towards reaching targets of employment, poverty and social exclusion. Here you can read a summary of the four priorities and the Six Month Programme of the Cyprus Presidency.
More specifically on social and employment policy the Cyprus Presidency plan to focus on:
• Strengthening social cohesion, placing emphasis on child well –being, the active participation of older people in all aspects of the society and intergenerational solidarity.
• Investing in more and better jobs, new and upgraded skills with emphasis on tackling youth unemployment.
• Strengthening the participatory processes and the involvement of social partners, local authorities and the civil society in the implementation of Europe 2020 especially as regards the targets of employment, poverty and social exclusion, drawing from experience on best practices at national and European level.
For more on their social and employment priorities see here.
In terms of health policy the Cyprus Presidency will further develop work in the area of healthy ageing by collecting evidence and highlighting best practices which prove that Healthy Ageing is a matter of continuous process that requires the implementation of health promotion and disease prevention programmes. Key elements will be, among others, the multidisciplinary approaches involving both individuals and their community, and their application throughout the lifecycle, from early stages of life until the late years. Read more about their health priorities here.
Follow on Twitter! The Cyprus EU Presidency will also have three official Twitter profiles:
• For updates and news from the official Cyprus EU Presidency follow @cy2012eu.
• For updates and news from our Brussels based spokespersons Marianna Karageorgis and Nikos Christodoulides follow @cy2012eu_MK and @cy2012eu_NC.
• If you wish to tweet on the CY Presidency, please use the hashtag #cy2012eu
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President Barroso's team responds to Eurodiaconia and the Church and Society Commission on Europe 2020 |
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26 June 2012
Following on our joint letter to the President of the European Commission sent on the 15th May 2012, Eurodiaconia and the Church and Society Commission (CSC) received a response from Mr. Henning Klaus, in charge of dialogue with churches and religious organisation for Mr. Barroso.
In his letter Mr. Henning thanked Eurodiaconia and the CSC on behalf of Mr. Barroso and confirmed that "the President shares your concern that the current poverty targets set by individual Member States are insufficient to reach the ambitious target of lifting at least 20 million people out of poverty and social exclusion by 2020". He continued by listing the European Commission initiatives and actions to encourage Member States to address this issue and spoke of initiatives such as the 2012 Annual Growth Survey (and its point on the social impact of the crisis), the communication on "Action for Stability, Growth and Jobs" and of course the recent Country Specific Recommendations (to be formally adopted by the end of the week at the June Council).
The letter finishes by a confirmation of the importance of the role of civil society and social partners to create the sense of ownership and dynamism needed for reform but also to ensure that policies are well tailored. The European Commission will therefore evaluate this involvement at national and EU level.
To read the full text of the European Commission letter please click here (19th June 2012)
To read the letter sent by Eurodiaconia and the Church and Society Commission please click here (15th May 2012)
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European Commission Country Specific Recommendations now available |
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1st June 2012
On the 30th of May the European Commission issued its proposed Country Specific Recommendations which are drafted by the European Commission services and adopted by the College of Commissioners. These recommendations will be discussed by the Council of Ministers in June, endorsed by EU Heads of State of Government at the European Council on 28/29 June, and then formally adopted by the Council of Ministers in July. The European Commission also issued a Communication on Action for Stability, Growth and Jobs which summarizes its views.
The narrative around these recommendations seem to have improved compared to last year as more recommendations clearly refer to poverty (Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Bulgaria, UK) and because the European Commission Communication refers to the need for consolidation efforts to be more growth-friendly and further confirms that “the negative social impact of the crisis, including its effect on poverty levels, must be addressed.”
The European Commission seem to be taking a step in the right direction by leaving more space for issues related to the social impact of the crisis and the poverty reduction target. Eurodiaconia especially welcomes the European Commission's recognition that “Lifting at least 20 million people out of poverty would not only improve their lives, but will also bring economic benefits for the society as a whole.” Eurodiaconia will look at these recommendations in more detail and check if this rhetoric is confirmed by concrete recommendations, and if the Council will not disregard these elements.
We would really appreciate your feedback on your Country Specific Recommendations as it will help us in turn to give feedback to the European institutions. Please have a look at the Country Specific Recommendations and let us know what you think about them (e-mails can be sent to
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Sunday, May 26, 2013
