Peer Reviews

Peer Reviews are a key instrument of the Social 'Open Method of Coordination' (OMC). They enable an open discussion on social protection and social inclusion policies in the different EU Member States and facilitate the mutual learning process among them.

Each Peer Review is hosted by one country.

The host country can present a selected “good practice” – a new programme, a policy reform or an institutional arrangement mentioned in its National Strategy Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion – to experts from the European Commission, other countries (peer countries) and relevant stakeholder organisations. The aim is to evaluate the policy, to see if it is effective in a national context, to establish how it contributes to EU objectives, to uncover any flaws – notably by learning from "good practices" in other countries – and to determine whether it could be effectively transferred to other Member States.

The host country can also use the Peer Review meetings to gather expert advice from other countries in order to inform the process of preparation of a major policy reform in the field of social protection and social inclusion (or new programme or institutional arrangement). The aim would be to take advantage of "good practices" existing in other EU countries to improve the efficiency of their reforms.

For more information on how Peer Reviews are organised and how countries and policies are selected, please consult the Operational Guide.