European Semester 2014:

Ensure Social Progress

Today, the European affairs ministers met in Brussels to launch the 2014 European Semester, following the publication of the Annual Growth Survey 2014 by the European Commission last week.

This survey – and its annexed Draft Joint Employment Report – shows that there is a need for policy change in order to respond to rising inequalities, growing unemployment, in particular long-term and youth employment and increasing divergence among Member States on social and employment conditions.

In the perspective of SOLIDAR, strengthening active inclusion and promoting quality employment by raising social standards in all Member States should be the priority of the EU, in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy. It is time for social consolidation and to increase social cohesion within and between EU Member States.

SOLIDAR therefore publishes the briefing paper “European Semester 2014: Ensure Social Progress” providing the following recommendations on how to strengthen the social dimension of macro-economic surveillance in the upcoming policy coordination cycle:

· Further strengthen the social dimension of the European Semester.

· Fight unemployment and in particular youth unemployment.

· Improve access to healthcare and quality social services for all.

· Promote access and participation in lifelong learning.

· Promote, reinforce and support social economy.

· Strengthen active citizenship and volunteering for social cohesion.

· Fight discrimination and social exclusion.

On the basis of this briefing, we will also launch the SOLIDAR Social Progress Watch Initiative – a monitoring tool to evaluate progress made towards a more social and cohesive Europe within the framework of the European Semester – on November 28 in the European Parliament.

SOLIDAR is a European network of 60 NGOs working to advance social justice in Europe and worldwide. SOLIDAR voices the concerns of its member organisations to the EU and international institutions across the policy sectors social affairs, international cooperation and lifelong learning. For more info www.solidar.org