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CDR3048-2013_15_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: / Ústecký region
Contact details:
(address, telephone, email) /
On behalf of:
(name of local or regional authority) / Regional Authority of the Usti Region
Type of organisation / City/Town/Municipality Region
County/Province
Association of local and/or regional authorities
Other (please specify)
Country: / Czech Republic
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?
Ensuring accessible, high-quality social services (low threshold treatment programmes for children and young people, social activation services for families with children, outreach programmes); in some areas, children are enrolled in the first year of vocational schools for no good reason (e.g. because parents want to send their children to thenearest school); lack of social housing and related social services – often replaced by unsuitable accommodation; drug problems in socially excluded communities; gambling, high level of debtamong people living in socially excluded communities.
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).
The Ustecky region carries out individual projects to support social services in this area, which could beof higher quality and be developed further. These social services are financed from the municipal and regional budgets. Certain local authorities in the region have adopted bylaws to restrict gambling. Local authorities are trying to make "social housing" or "progressive housing" more available; certain local authorities are trying to introduce the idea of "social housing."
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).
Action in the area of social inclusion involves on-going cooperation with local and regional NGOs and local authorities (at local, regional and national level).
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.
Roma organisations, for instance, organise cultural festivals as well as events to celebrate International Roma Day; NGOs working with foreign nationals resident in our region also organise cultural festivals – one example is the Barevná planeta (Colourful Planet) festival organised by the NGO Poradna pro integraci vÚstí nad Labem (Ústí nad LabemInformation Centre on Integration). Individual NGOs organise cultural activities for children in socially excluded communities (singing, dancing, music).

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.
The objectives and lines of action that are most relevant for the current situation in our region are improved accessto work, social security, essential services and education for people from socially excluded communities.

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.
At present, we are unable to comment on this objective. The package has yet to be implemented in any form at regional level.
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?
EU policies have a real impact on cooperation with, above all, central government. At local and regional level, subsequent cooperation with central government bodies, such as the Agency for Social Inclusion, also have a real impact. We consider this cooperation to be positive.

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

8) To help meet the headline targets and objectives (see Boxes 1 and 2), your country has set its own country targets, which you can find at To what extent are the targets set by your country appropriate to your local situation? Please explain.
Theproposals are currently too general to allow us to comment on their relevance to our region.
9)Does your country's 2012 (current)National Reform Programme[20] (NRP) for Europe 2020adequately respond to your regional/local needs in the policy areas covered by the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion(see Box 1)? If not, would you suggest any changes in your country's NRP for 2013?
As per the previous point – the government could take greater account of the specific needs of regions with a larger potential number of socially excluded communities.
10)Do you have theopportunity to contribute to the drafting of your NRP, or your National Job Plan, in the policy areascovered by the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, even if this takes placeindirectlythrough the organisations that representcities and regions in your country? If yes, please state how in brief.
Advisory bodies are primarily managed at central government level. Our region is making efforts to actively establish contacts and cooperate with these bodies.

Policy and funding issues

11)What sources of funding are used to financeyour actions underthe European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion(as provided under question 2)? In particular: what is the role of the EU Structural Funds in funding actions relating to theEuropean Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion?
Support for social services in the area of poverty and social exclusion is financed from the local (municipal) and the regional budget. In addition, these measures are also funded by the EU. EU Structural Funds provide a more long-term and therefore more stable means of financing the implemented measures.
12)Have any of the goals pursued in fighting poverty and social exclusion been jeopardised due to fiscal consolidation policies and subsequent financial difficulties?
In general, there is a lack of funding from the state for social services.
13)Were you directly or indirectly involved in the preparation of the forthcoming Partnership Agreementwhich isto be signed between your national government and the European Commission for the management of the Structural Funds under theCommon Strategic Framework 2014-2020? If yes, please explain how in brief.
No, we are simply informed about theseissues by national level bodies (individual ministries).
14)How should poverty issues be addressed in the forthcoming Partnership Agreement mentioned in the above question?
Greater funds could be allocated to the regional level, which is responsible for providing primary and secondary education, and which has a good understanding oflocal conditions.
15)Please addany further comments you wish to make on the issues covered in this questionnaire.
No comment.
SHARE YOUR GOOD PRACTICE
As part of the preparations for the CoR conference to be held on 29 May 2013and to showcase good practices in areas covered by the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion,you are invitedto submit examples of good practice from your local area.
Pleasecomplete the form available on our website:

/ JOIN THE EUROPE 2020 MONITORING PLATFORM
To help convey the voice of EU cities and regions in the implementation of Europe 2020 at EU level and in your country, join us. For details on how, see:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!

CDR3048-2013_15_00_TRA_TCD

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[2]Privacy Statement: The follow-up to your contribution requires that your personal data (name, contact details, etc.) be processed in a file. All the answers to the questions are voluntary. Your replies will be kept for a period of 5 years after the receipt of your questionnaire. Should you require any further information or wish to exercise your rights under Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 (e.g. to access, rectify or delete your data), please contact the data controller at . If necessary, you may also contact the CoR Data Protection Officer (). You have the right of recourse to the European Data Protection Supervisor at any time ( Please note that the questionnaire with your contribution and your contact details will be published online. Your questionnaire may be transmitted to CoR rapporteurs and other EU institutions for information. Should you not agree to this, please inform us accordingly.

[3]EUROPE 2020. A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, COM(2010) 2020 final, Brussels, 3.3.2010

p. 19.

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[9]The Handbook can be downloaded from

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[13]COM(2010) 758 final "The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: A European frameworkfor social and territorial cohesion",p. 4-5 -

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[15]COM(2010) 758 final "The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: A European frameworkfor social and territorial cohesion",p. 5 -

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[18]COM(2010) 758 final "The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: A European frameworkfor social and territorial cohesion",p. 4-5 -

[19]Please note that some Member States have not set targets in the field of poverty eradication.

[20]All available here: