Barbara stressed that Active Inclusion is not a magic formula that will eradicate poverty and social exclusion and does not substitute for a comprehensive overarching strategy to combat poverty and social exclusion. However, It is a key tool that if implemented successfully, can provide an integrated, multidimensional and holistic approach to combating poverty and social exclusion, that can really make a difference to people of working age.
Robert Anderson from Eurofound supported EAPN by also identifying the importance of civil society in formulating and implementing good quality policies while the representative of the EESC, Olivier Röpke reiterated the call for a comprehensive financial package to support active inclusion policies. Such a package would require up to 2 per cent national budgets.
During the lively debate that followed, it was also underlined that existing funding opportunities would need to be monitored as to their operationalization under theESF.
The event enabled participants to look into the following questions:
- Why is it important to aim for an integrated implementation of the three strands of active inclusion (adequate income support, inclusive labour markets and access to quality services)?
- The Social Investment Package ensures the follow-up to the Active Inclusion Strategy. How to ensure that Member States develop approaches that effectively integrate the three strands of the later?
- What role can the Europe 2020 Strategy and the European Semester play in making active inclusion and social investment happen?
- What more can the European institutions do to mainstream active inclusion and social investment in the Union’s policies?
- What role can the social partners and civil society organisations play in promoting and implementing the necessary measures?
