Peer Review in Social Protection and Social Inclusion and Assessment in Social Inclusion

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

You are here: Home → Newsletter → The European Commission unveils the Renewed Social Agenda
 
Document Actions

The European Commission unveils the Renewed Social Agenda

Newsletter 2008-2

Publication date : 2008-07-29

The Renewed Social Agenda1 builds on the results achieved by the EU in promoting growth and jobs, gender equality and, better working conditions as well as in tackling discrimination and improving social cohesion generally. It is motivated by the recognition that globalisation combined with technological, demographic and environmental changes makes it important to review the means of pursuing the fundamental social objective of an harmonious, cohesive and inclusive society. It also recognises the need to adopt an holistic approach encompassing different policies and instruments.

The agenda is based on three basic principles:

“Europe’s social dimension has never been more relevant. It is inseparable from the EU’s strategy to stimulate growth and provide better jobs for Europeans.”

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
  • generating opportunities for more and better jobs and increased welfare;
  • improving access to good quality education, social protection, health care and social services;
  • promoting solidarity between individuals, social groups, different generations, regions and Member States.

The agenda takes account of the results of a broad public consultation carried out by the Commission in 2007 on Europe’s Social Reality in identifying seven priority areas:

  • Children and youth – tomorrow's Europe;
  • Investing in people: more and better jobs, new skills;
  • Mobility;
  • Longer and healthier lives;
  • Combating poverty and social exclusion and reinforcing social services;
  • Fighting discrimination and promoting gender equality;
  • Opportunities, access and solidarity on the global scene.

In order to achieve these objectives, the agenda proposes a mix of measures in six broad policy areas:

  • EU legislation: e.g. new laws and regulations to combat discrimination based on religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation discrimination beyond the workplace, enhancing patients' rights in cross-border health care, improving the functioning of European Works Councils.
  • Social dialogue: encouraging social partners to make full use of the possibilities offered by Dialogue at the European level.
  • Open Method of Coordination: strengthening and utilising the full potential of the Social OMC by applying some of the procedures and working methods used under the Lisbon strategy, with a view to improving the political commitment and visibility (i.e. by setting quantitative targets), strengthening the positive interaction with other EU policies, enhancing analytical tools and the evidence base, and stimulating ownership, monitoring, mutual learning and peer review by Member States.
  • EU funding: ensuring effective use of the EU's Structural Funds, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and the PROGRESS Programme on employment and social solidarity.
  • Partnership, dialogue and communication: encouraging the involvement of people businesses, NGOs, regional and local authorities and other stakeholders and consultation with these.
  • Ensuring that all EU policies promote equal opportunities, access and solidarity: by assessing the social and employment impact of all new major initiatives before they are introduced.

 

1 Renewed social agenda: Opportunities, access and solidarity in 21st century Europe (COM(2008) 412 final).