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CDR3554-2013_00_00_TRA_TCD

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EU local and regional authorities contributing to the

Mid-term review of Europe 2020

Assessment of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion flagship initiative

Over two years after its launch, the Committee of the Regions will take stock of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusionflagship initiative at a conference to be held on 29May 2013 in Brussels. This conference will be the fourthin a series of CoR events and monitoring initiatives surrounding the mid-term review of Europe 2020 in 2014. More news on this conference can be found on the CoR website[1].

By participating in this survey, you will:

ensure that your views are taken into account in the debate held during the conference;

contribute to the fourth CoR Monitoring Report on Europe 2020, to be published in October 2013;

contribute to the CoR's consultative activity in this field over the coming months;

contribute to the mid-term review of Europe 2020 in 2014.

If you wish to participate in this survey, Please complete this questionnaire in any eu language, using the spaces provided, and return it in text format to:

by 22April 2013

For more information on this survey and for details on how to join the

Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform, go to:

The questionnaire is available on this website in all official languages of the EU


Contributor information[2]

Name of sender: / Aleksandra Walas
Contact details:
(address, telephone, email) / 077 44 16 495
On behalf of:
(name of local or regional authority) / Regionalny Ośrodek Polityki Społecznej w Opolu – Obserwatorium Integracji Społecznej (Regional Centre for Social Policy in Opole – Social Integration Observatory).
Type of organisation / City/Town/Municipality Region
County/Province
Association of local and/or regional authorities
Other (please specify)
Country: / Poland
Member of the EUROPE 2020 Monitoring Platform: / YesNo

Policy challenges and responses at regional and local level

BOX 1 – European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: basic information
This is the first time ever thatthe objective of reducing poverty has been identified as aquantitative targetunder an EU strategy. The aim of the Europe 2020 flagship initiative, theEuropean Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion,is "to ensure economic, social and territorial cohesion in order to raise awareness and recognise the fundamental rights of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, enabling them to live in dignity and take an active part in society"[3].In particular, itoutlines actions to help Member States reach the EU target of reducing poverty and social exclusion by at least 20 million by the year 2020[4].
Althoughthe average at-risk-of-poverty-and-social-exclusion rate in the EU has remained relatively stable in recent years, it varies significantlyamong different age groups and between the Member States. It has significantly increased in a number of countries over the last three to four years[5]: while the rate is under 20% incertain Member Statessuch as Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg,it recently increased to 47% in Bulgaria, 40% in Latvia and 31% in Greece (2011). Furthermore, considerable differences exist between differentregionsin theMember States[6].
Today, the inhabitants of around one fifth of the EU's regions are particularly exposed to risks of poverty and social exclusion.
The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion feeds into the Europe 2020 objective of inclusive growth along with the Agenda for New Skills and Jobs flagship initiative. It will also help to achieve the other objectives of smart growth (alongside the Youth on the Move flagship initiative). In particular, it contributes to the objective of achieving the Europe 2020 headline target to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and social exclusion.
The main objectives and lines of action of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion are highlighted in Box 2 below.
EU regional and local governments are responsible for about one fifth of total government expenditure for social protection and services and therefore play an important role in helping to achieve the objectives of the flagship initiative[7].
You can find more information on the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, as seen from thelocal and regional authorities' viewpoint, on the European Commission's Europe 2020 portal[8] and in the Committee of the Regions' publication Delivering on the Europe 2020 Strategy. Handbook for Local and Regional Authorities[9]. General information on Europe 2020 can be found on the strategy's official website[10] and on the website of DG Employment.[11].
1)What are the main challenges currently facing your region/city in terms of (i) preventing child poverty (ii) providing decent housing conditions and (iii) combating the social exclusion of vulnerable groups?
(i) For many years now, the Opolskie region has had one of Poland's lowest rates of poverty; accordingly, the measures adopted to address this problem have focused on limiting its negative impact, primarily in the area of child poverty. It should, however, be stressed that the support system (welfare support, family allowances and other social transfers) primarily tackles susbsistence poverty. This means that the financial support provided covers only the most basic needs and, given the failures of other social systems (healthcare, education) the deprivation in the region concerns needsabove and beyond basic needs(families have limited access to specialist medical, rehabilitation, cultural and leisure services or tosocial transfers) taking into account the relative poverty line (as used in the EU).
(ii) According to Poland's National Statistics Office,the residents of the Opole region enjoy decent housing conditions. There is, however, a problem in terms of a lack of social and sheltered housing, particularly for older people, people with disabilities, children and young people with psychiatric disorders.
(iii) The most serious problem currently facing the region is the rapidly ageing societyand the problem of depopulation and the resulting failure to cater to the needs of older people, the chronically ill, people with disabilities as well as those on long-term benefits.
2) Please briefly describe what type of policy programmes/actions are being implemented in your city/region in the policy areas covered by the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, highlighting their specific contribution to the above targets (see Box 1).
1.Specjalna Strefa Demograficzna(Special Demographic Zone) – this programme tackles the problem of depopulation by developing the labour market and social service provision for local people, especially families with children. The programme will be carried out jointly with the local authority using EU funds and local government funding. Work is currently underway on preparing the related packages of measures. The programme addresses the cross-cutting challenges identified in the2020 Opolskie Regional Development Strategy
The programme covers the followingfour areas of action:
1)Work means a secure family (Pakiet Praca to bezpieczna rodzina)– action to create more and better quality jobs in the region,
2)Education and the labour market (Pakiet Edukacja a rynek pracy)– action to tailor local educational courses to the needs of the local economy and to train management staff for an innovative economy,
3)Crèche and pre-school (Pakiet Opieka żłobkowo-przedszkolna)– action to increaseaccess to crèche and pre-school facilities (including in financial terms),
4)Golden Autumn (Pakiet Złota jesień)–improving access to and quality of the services provided to older people.
2.The government'sstate-funded food programme (Pomoc państwa w zakresie dożywiania) – delivered in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy using national funding (40% financed by local authority funding), it provides help to all those in need, particularly school age children, in the form of meals or allowances for the purchase of food.
3.A number of projects implemented using EFS funds under the2007-2013 Human Capital Operational Programme – participation of local and country authoritiesin the delivery ofprojects that targetpeople at risk of social exclusion (people in long-term unemployment and receiving social assistance as well as people with disabilities).
4.The 20120-2015Opolskie Regional Psychiatric Health Protection Programme (Regionalny Program Ochrony Zdrowia Psychicznego dla Województwa Opolskiego na lata 2012-2015) – adopted by the Opolskie regional executive in December 2012,
5.Multiannual Opolskie Regional Action Plan for the social economy and the development of the institutions of the social economy sector and its environment for the years 2013-2020 (Wieloletni regionalny plan działań województwa opolskiego na rzecz ekonomii społecznej oraz rozwoju instytucji sektora ekonomii społecznej i jej otoczenia w regionie na lata 2013-2020) – also adopted by the Opolskie regional executive in December 2012.
6.Government programme to help older people become socially active 2012-2013 (Rządowy program aktywizacji społecznej osób starszych na lata 2012-2013).
3)Are any of the policy programmes/actions described in the above questioncarried out in partnership with different tiers of government and/or withother stakeholders (regional or local NGOs, representatives of the social partners, the business sector or service providers). If yes, please state (a) the administrative levels involved (b) the practical arrangements taken to manage such joint action (c) who the main partners were and (d) how you worked with them (work organisation and time).
All of the above programmes are carried out by the local government (region, county or municipality). The government's state-funded food programme has been carried out for a number of years in the form of a social-public and inter-departmental partnership: the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, municipal and county authorities have cooperated with the third sector and commercial firms by outsourcing various services to NGOs or commercial firms (e.g. the operation of school canteens).
The projects carried out by municipal and county authorities under the Human Capital Operational Programme are also based on the partnership principle (training and work-start programmes for people at risk of social exclusion are organised by NGOs and commercial firms (in cooperation with the voluntary sector) while project management is the responsibility of themunicipal or county authorities (social assistance centres and county-level family advice centres).
The remaining programmes are currently at the preparation phase in terms of their action packages, funding methods, rules of cooperation and partnership.
4)Ensuring effective access to and participation in cultural activities for all is an essential part of promoting an inclusive society. In what way can participation in cultural and creative activities be instrumental for helping people and communities overcome poverty and social exclusion? Please refer to specific examples and existing initiatives.
......

How is the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion relevant to your city or region?

BOX 2 -European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: main objectives and actions
The specific objectives of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusionare[12][13]:
  • to support theeradication ofchild poverty. Over 20 million children are at risk of poverty in Europe today. This risk rises to 25% for children who live in large families and is over 30% in the case of children who live in single parent families;
  • to promote the active inclusionin society and on thelabour market of the most vulnerable groupssinceunemployment is the principal cause of poverty among the working-age population. The risk of poverty for the unemployed is more than five times greater than in the case of people inemployment;
  • to provide decent housing for everyone. Homelessness and housing exclusion represent one of the most extreme forms of poverty and have increased in recent years. Fuel poverty, which risks depriving households not only of heating or air conditioning but also hot water, light and other essential domestic necessities, is another example of severe deprivation;
  • to overcome discrimination and increase the social integration of people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, immigrants and other vulnerable groups. For example, older people face a higher risk of poverty compared to the overall population; moreover, in some countries older people are at particular risk of material deprivation;
  • to tacklefinancial exclusion and over-indebtednesswhich arisefrom a lack of access to basic banking services, a situation which has been aggravated by the recent crisis. It can also be an obstacle to finding a job and thus lead to persistent marginalisation and poverty;
  • to promote the integration of Roma. Certain ethnic minorities, of whom Roma are the largest group, and migrant people in general, are disproportionately affected by multipledeprivation.

The specific actions and tools at EU level are structured as follows[14][15]:
  • improved access to work, social security, essential services (healthcare, housing, etc.) and education;
  • better use of EU funds to support social inclusion and combat discrimination;
  • social innovation to identify smart solutions in post-crisis Europe, especially in terms of more effective and efficient social support;
  • new partnerships such as those between the public and the private sector;
  • enhancedpolicy coordination among the Member States;
  • provision of food to the most deprived people, as well as clothing and other essential goods to homeless people and materially-deprived children[16].

5)Which of the objectives and lines of action of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion(listed in Box 2) are most relevant for the current situation in your region/city? To what extent have they encouragedyou to set more ambitious policy goals at regional/local level? Please explain your answer.
Promoting the active inclusion in society and on the labour market of the most vulnerable groups – improving access to work, essential services – healthcare, senior care and education.
Overcoming discrimination and increasing the social integration of people with disabilities and older people.
Increasing the effectiveness of work-start projects financed under the EFS (through more partnership and innovative measures).
These are the most important areas of action, which were set out in theOpolskie 2020 Regional Development Strategy, and in the above-mentioned programmes, particularly theSpecial Demographic Zone programme.

BOX 3 –Social Investment Package[17][18]:

The Social Investment Package (SIP) aims to give guidance to Member States on more efficient and effective social policies in response to the significant challenges they currently face such as financial distress, increasing poverty and social exclusion,unemployment, especially among young people. These are combined with the challenge of ageing societies and smaller working age populations, which test the sustainability and adequacy of national social systems.

The Social Investment Package includes a Commission recommendation against child poverty, calling for an integrated approach to child-friendly social investment. Investing in children and young people is especially effective in breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty and social exclusion and improving people's opportunities later in life.

The Social Investment Package is an integrated policy framework which takes account of the social, economic and budgetary divergences between Member States. It focuses on:

1.Ensuring that social protection systems respond to people's needs at critical moments throughout their lives. More needs to be done to reduce the risk of social breakdown and so avoid higher social spending in the future.

2.Simplified and better targeted social policies, to provide adequate and sustainable social protection systems. Some countries have better social outcomes than others despite having similar or lower budgets, demonstrating that there is room for more efficient social policy spending.

3.Upgrading active inclusion strategies in the Member States. Affordable quality childcare and education, prevention of early school leaving, training and job-search assistance, housing support and accessible health care are all policy areas with a strong social investment dimension.

6)How relevant is the new Social Investment Package adopted by the European Commission on 13February 2013 (Box 3) for your local/regional policies? Has it encouraged or helped you to set more ambitious policy goals at regional/local level? Please explain your answer.
The Social Investment Package can act as an effective mechanism for combating social exclusion becauseit modernises social security systems, which makes it possible to broaden the scope of the prevention measures, counselling and analysis deployed and to monitor the local social situation more closely. Work is currently underway in Poland on reforming the social support system (i.e. separating support measures from social work, prevention and advice/counselling). The catalyst for these changes is the new Act on Family Support and the Foster Care System, which introduces a number of new institutions and job positions, the most important of which is the "family assistant" whose tasks involve early detection, prevention, advice and support measures as well as action to prevent the social exclusion of families bringing up children.
Local governments will play a key role in this process; they will able to introduce innovations and better solutions more effectively using the funding and mechanisms outlined in the programmes and projects. The following play a particularly important role in the Opolskie region: Special Demographic Zone, Multiannual Opolskie Regional Action Plan for the social economy and the development of the institutions of the social economy sector and its environment in the region for the years 2013-2020, programmes which support the third sector and the voluntary sector.
7)What are the strong and weak points of the EU's policies addressing poverty and social exclusion? Were they sufficient in view of the challenges you are facing in this area? If not, would you recommend makingany specific changes to the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusionflagship initiative after the mid-term review of Europe 2020 in 2014, especially with regard to local and regional authority involvement?
The EU's "Europe 2020 Strategy" is a document which addresses the challenges facing Poland and its regions. It identifiesappropriate priorities, objectives and tasks and sets out methods forlimiting and eliminatinga variety of negative situations andsocial problems (including strengthened action between the social partners and the need for innovation).
Our experience in delivering social integration programmes in various municipalities and counties of the Opolskie region as part of the 2007-2013 Human Capital Operational Programme has revealed:
difficulties in terms of funding (delays in rolling out tranches of funding, problems with classifying expenditure),
often inadequate partnerships (public institutions, NGOS and commercial firms),
complicated procedures for implementing projects and an insufficient number of workers to carry them out.

Are your country's policies relevant to your city or region?