Social inclusion and protection of particular groups
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Poverty and social exclusion take complex and multi-dimensional forms which require the mobilisation of a wide range of policies under that overall strategy. Alongside employment policy, social protection has a pre-eminent role to play, while the importance of other factors such as housing, education, health, information and communications, mobility, security and justice, leisure and culture should also be acknowledged. Employment is the best safeguard against social exclusion. In order to promote employment it is necessary to develop employability, in particular through policies to promote the acquisition of skills and life-long learning. The implementation of the objectives to which the European Union has committed itself within the European Employment Strategy will, therefore, make a vital contribution to the fight against exclusion. Economic growth and social cohesion are mutually reinforcing. It is a precondition for better economic performance that we create a society with greater social cohesion and less exclusion. Social protection systems also play a key role. In this context, the national social assistance and minimum income schemes are important instruments in social protection policy. It is vital, in the context of an active welfare state, to create modern systems of social protection which promote access to employment. Retirement pensions and access to health care also play an important role in the fight against social exclusion.[1]
Following the introduction by the Amsterdam Treaty (Article 136 and 137) of the fight against social exclusion among the Union Objectives, the Lisbon European Council of March 2000 asked Member States and the European Commission to take steps to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty by 2010. Building a more inclusive European Union was thus considered as an essential element in achieving the Union's ten year strategic goal of sustained economic growth, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion It has also agreed that Member States should co-ordinate their policies for combating poverty and social exclusion on the basis of an "Open Method of Co-ordination" (OMC). The OMC is supported by a Community Action Programme (2002-2006) to encourage cooperation in fighting social exclusion, which provides funding to a wide range of activities.[1]
According to the Impact Assessment Guidelines of the European Commission, the following key questions are of particular importance when examining the impacts of policy initiatives on specific regions or sectors:
- Evaluating impact on access to the labour market
- Evaluating impact on option's lead to equality
- Evaluating impact on access to serves and goods
- Evaluating impact on placement services
- Evaluating impact on option's ability to inform public
- Evaluating impact on affecting specific groups
- Evaluating impact on affecting third country nationals[1]
See also
References
This text is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace any reference documents.
