Conference Summary: European Pillar of Social Rights and ESF
by Vera NYGARD
European Pillar of Social Rights and ESF+
Considerations for the Salvation Army:
- TSA works directly with the people that ESF+ targets. We need to be communicating their voice to decision makers and make sure that their concerns are taken into account when implementing ESF+ initiatives.
- ESF+ will provide opportunities for TSA to implement projects that benefit the people we serve. TSA can monitor and apply for relevant calls for proposals in each country.
On 28 January 2020, Social Platform hosted an event at the European Parliament to foster discussion between representatives of member-states, MEPs, and civil society organisations on the topic of implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights in the upcoming European semester with the help of the European Social Fund (ESF+).
Piotr Sadowski (President of Social Platform) opened the discussion with a provocative statement: ‘If you are not at the table, you are on the menu’. This statement, referring to civil society organisations voicing their thoughts and bringing the concerns and needs of the individuals that they represent ‘to the table’ illustrated the importance of collaborative efforts in the upcoming European semester. These efforts are vital in order to ensure that the ESF+ is utilised in ways that effectively address the social realities within Member-states. This issue of communication was something that was frequently brought up throughout the conference and is a matter that should be kept in mind by The Salvation Army throughout Europe and our partner organisations. TSA has a firsthand knowledge of the realities of the communities and individuals that we work with, and this knowledge must be brought to the table to ensure that their voices are heard.
The Future of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Role of the ESF
Commissioner Nicolas Schmit launched into his keynote speech by emphasising the need for the right financial resources to ensure effective implementation of the Pillar which is our ‘common European commitment’. He went on to note that the ESF+ can contribute to all 20 principles of the Pillar especially principles that desperately need to be addressed like child poverty, housing, and employment with a proposed budget of 100 billion euros for the next seven years. Addressing child poverty in particular will involve the idea of a child guarantee, which will be designed with the ESF+ in mind. ‘Child poverty is dividing our societies and is a liability for the future.’ Schmit stressed. ‘We must develop a new strategy to combat child poverty and the ESF+ is vital in order to do this.’ He then went on to speak about the desire to move towards sustainability with the adoption of a Green New Deal. ‘When we talk about sustainability, it is not only the environmental aspect but also the social aspect.’ He stated. ‘If we want to be successful with the Green New Deal it must be a just deal, which must be supplemented by effective social services, and the ESF+ will contribute to a just transition fund.’
MEP Brando Benefei (Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament) built upon Schmit’s speech, proclaiming his belief that the ESF+ will be the tool to deliver on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. ‘If we want the European Union to relaunch itself and we want to regain the trust and support of citizens then there must be a shift towards Europe’s most valuable asset: people.’ He went on to say that if this shift were to occur, then high levels of employment, social inclusion, and active societal participation would result. He noted that the earmarking of funding in the ESF+ for capacity-building of local and regional partners as well as civil society organisations can help accomplish these objectives and that such an approach could help address multidimensional challenges like the integration of asylum seekers. He also stressed the need for employing integrated approaches within the ESF+ when addressing issues like child poverty to ensure that all children have access to education, adequate nutrition, and housing.
Discussion: Where are We Headed?
During the discussion section of the conference, many important points were brought up, particularly the need for clear targets in order to address certain objectives, like child poverty. ‘This, stated Heather Roy (Social Platform), ‘is instrumental in order to make full use of the resources that we have available from the ESF+.’ Adopting and moving towards specific targets is also important when ensuring that the ESF+ is not viewed as a ‘magic fund’ that can be used to address ‘all of Europe’s social needs’. ‘There must be coherency in order to make this happen,’ she stressed. ‘Especially in regard to the upcoming European semester, the MFF, the ESF+, and the Sustainable Development Goals, which must not only take place on a European level but also a national level.’ The objectives of the SDGs have now been integrated in the European Semester. However, the focus is currently on only 6 of the SDGs, excluding for instance SDG 6: clean water and sanitation, even though it’s a well-known fact that many Roma communities lack access to both. ‘We cannot be selective when it comes to promoting social inclusion and access to human rights.’ She went on to emphasise that the Pillar is a strategy in order to achieve something. ‘What is it that the EU wants to achieve? That’s what we need to be talking about. That is how we make the connection between the ESF+ and the implementation of the Pillar because that is what EU citizens are looking for right now.’
Concluding Thoughts
The ESF+ will continue to support aid to the most deprived persons and the current implementation framework of FEAD will be adhered to. However, sufficient resources must be agreed upon when developing policies like the Green New Deal in order to ensure that there will be no draining of resources from the ESF+. A good compromise will ensure that a transition will be effective as well as inclusive. If this does not come to pass, then the principles of the Pillar will remain principles, and that is not enough.
The ESF+ is hoped to be up and running next year.
Tags: Europe