This week saw the much anticipated European conference on the European Commissions’ proposal on a Pillar of Social Rights.  Over 500 people gathered together in Brussels to discuss how the idea of a guaranteed set of social rights for people across Europe could work and look like.  In some ways this discussion should be easy. We know that accessible social services, adequate minimum income, living wages and social security are fundamental to ensuring wellbeing and promoting progressive, enabling and empowering societies. But who is responsible to ensure such structures and policies exist? The European Union? Member States? Social Partners? We had a clear signal from the European Commission that there is a role for the EU to play and to complement the governmental and parliamentary competency in such actions. However, for some Member States and Social Partners, the EU should have no legislative role and can only promote co-operation and co-ordination between Member States. As a result of this debate, who knows what we will get as a final proposal about social rights in Europe – a political declaration with no visible teeth, something that is said and not acted on – or will we see a clear proposal of actions at European level designed to have impact on social wellbeing across the EU? We will find out at the end of March.

What was interesting however was how much some of those involved in European politics have realised that showing how the EU makes a positive impact on people’s day to day lives is increasingly urgent and important. Concerns about rising populism, disengagement from political processes and fragmentation of the European project were never far from most speakers’ lips – and I was pleased to hear that. But I was also concerned that it seems that we can only expect action on social issues when there is a perceived and indeed real threat to our institutions and ‘status quo’. Is having 119 million people at risk of poverty in the EU not enough for the EU to take action? Is having thousands of destitute refugees entering the European Union and neighbouring countries such as Armenia not enough to warrant action? Is the increasing demand for social services due to demographic change not a reason to invest in our social policies, modernise them and ensure adequacy?

The phrase ‘ensuring no one is left behind’ was used a lot on Monday and I agree with it – as would many members of Eurodiaconia. However, it seems that wanting to ensure that no one is left behind only happens when institutions are finally on the move, not when those likely to be left behind are facing poverty, exclusion, unemployment and social need. The impetus for increasing emphasis on social policies should not be simply a response to institutional threats –  important as it is to also address those threats – but the wellbeing of people in Europe. That should be our priority – and our first trigger for action.

Have a good week,

Heather