• Our work

    Eurodiaconia links diaconal actors to examine social needs, develop ideas and influence policies impacting Poverty and Social Exclusion, Social and Health Care Services and the Future of Social Europe.

    Eurodiaconia also provides a platform for transnational networking and best practice sharing.  

     

  • Our vision

    As the leading network for diaconal work in Europe, we look to develop dialogue and partnership between members and influence and engage with the wider society.  We do this to enable inclusion, care and empowerment of the most vulnerable and excluded and ensure dignity for all.

     

  • Our goals

    We aim to see a positive social change in Europe through:

    Praxis, enabling membership engagement and partnerships

    Advocacy, creating a network of competence to impact policies at European and national level

    Identity and values, supporting the development of approaches and thinking on Diaconia in Europe today

     

Calendar Tuesday, September 07, 2010
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Open Method of Coordination
General Introduction to the OMC

The Open Method of Coordination

What is it?

The Open Method of Coordination (OMC) is the EU's tool for helping Member States in their fight against poverty and social exclusion. It covers policy areas which fall outside the competence of the EU – such as employment, social protection and inclusion, education, youth and training. It therefore uses non-binding methods to encourage countries to cooperate, learn from best practice and plan together better strategies for social protection and inclusion.  Following this process, Member states agree at EU level on common objectives and measurement for these, and then work at national level, involving stakeholders, to reach these objectives. For general background on the OMC please see the Eurodiaconia briefing.

What is happening now?

In the framework of its Europe 2020 strategy, the European Commission is now working on a reform of the social inclusion policy which may lead to a reshaping of the OMC.  This is currently known as the  a “European platform against poverty” which will aim to ensure social and territorial cohesion such that the benefits of growth and jobs are widely shared and people experiencing poverty and social exclusion are enabled to live in dignity and take an active part in society. The Commission will publish a public consultation on the European platform against poverty either during the autumn 2010 or spring 2011.

What is Eurodiaconia doing?

The Eurodiaconia secretariat works to equip its members to take an active part in the OMC process at national level. Through regular training, briefings and updates on the social inclusion process, we keep our members informed of the evolution of the process and of the Member States commitments.

Eurodiaconia secretariat also listens to its members’ challenges and questions regarding the process. This allows us to draft policy briefings to the European Commission, highlighting our members concerns and recommendations for improvement of the process.

 More Information?

- Eurodiaconia summer 2010 update on the social inclusion process

- Eurodiaconia "toolkit" describes the Open Method of Coordination in more detail

- To read more about the European Commission's work on Social protection and Social inclusion please click here

News

5 August 2010
Summer update on the Social Inclusion Process

Joint report on social protection and social inclusion

No exit strategies without effective social policies 2010 joint report says


Background

Elements of OMC – Monitoring

2008 renewed social agenda
 
Update on the social inclusion process

05 August 2010

This summer is an occasion for us to prepare for you a brief update on what has recently been happening in the European Union’s Social inclusion process and what are the key forthcoming steps.

With the European Year 2010, the preparation of the key Europe 2020 strategy and the new Belgium presidency, you may be wondering - apart from small talk - what actually happened, what is new?

We hope this briefing  will answer your questions. If not, please do contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at the secretariat, so that we can guide you through the European Union’s recent changes in the social inclusion process!

In a second part of the briefing you will find a very short survey (2 pages) for our members to help us to understand their experience of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) process. Please fill-it in and send it back to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it before 10th September so that we are able to prepare an assessment of the process to build a position on the European Platform Against poverty, what it could be and how to make the social inclusion process more efficient.

Thank you once again for your involvement and interest.

 
 
Joint Report on Social Protection Social Inclusion

Commission assess Member States reports on Social Protection and Social Inclusion

The European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities have assessed Member States National Strategic Reports (NSR) on Social Protection and Social Inclusion.The European Commission assessment is published in a Joint Report (JR) on Social Protection and Social Inclusion and is available in all official languages of the EU. The JR is accompanied by a supporting doucment which more in detail assess trends in Member States social inclusion policies.

Please find the Joint Report by clicking here and then chose your language.
 
Background on the Open Method of Coordination
This Open Method of Coordination (OMC) is the EU's tool for helping Member States in their fight against poverty and social exclusion.It covers policy areas which fall outside of the competence of the EU - employment, social protection and inclusion, education, youth and training. It therefore uses non-binding methods to encourage countries to learn from best practice and plan better strategies in social protection and inclusion. For general background on the OMC please see the Eurodiaconia briefing.

Eurodiaconia also created a "tool kit" that describes the Open Method of Coordination in more detail. You can read it online by clicking "tool kit". Please contact Michael Johnsson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or +32 2 234 38 64 with questions.
You will find the European Commission's fact sheet on the Social OMC here
 
The Renewed Social Agenda and the Open Method of Coordination

6 October 2008

In July, 2008, the European Commission presented a "renewed" Social Agenda package that included, among other things, plans to reinforce the Open Method of Coordination for Social Protection and Social Inclusion. It puts more emphasis on commonly agreed objectives, further enhances the link between social policy and economic and employment policies, and has quantified targets on child poverty and the working poor. This has been done to encourage more implementation of anti-poverty and anti-social exclusion policy plans at national levels. To learn more, please see the Eurodiaconia briefing on Reinforcing the OMC for Social Protection and Social Inclusion.

 



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