European Anti-Poverty Network: EAPN Assessment of the National Reform Programmes 2015 – can the Semester deliver on poverty and participation?

In 2010, the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth set a target to reduce poverty by at least 20 million by 2020, delivered through the coordination cycle of the European Semester.

The strategy and process have strikingly failed to deliver so far, with 1 in 4 people now in poverty and social exclusion, an increase of 5 million since 2008.

In this report, EAPN members assess how far the social targets are being reached in the NRPs 2015. Civil society’s participation in the governance of the European Semester is also analysed.

Highlights from the assessment are that:

  • 88% of the National Reform Programmes in the EU do not have poverty as a main priority and only foster employment with increased conditionality as the main solution.
  • 76% said that austerity is still the main focus generating more poverty and social exclusion.
  • 65% said the NRPs focused on macroeconomic and financial management not Europe 2020 goals and targets.
  • Although 47% of anti-poverty networks were consulted in some form, 76% said that their input was not taken seriously.

It comes at a timely moment when revisions to the European Semester are being considered, in the light of the 5 President’s report and worries about whether Europe 2020 will be side-lined, putting the poverty and social targets at risk, following the delays to the Mid-Term Review.

EAPN recently presented the assessment and debated on the European Semester at its annual conference on 9 October, which was opened by President Schulz and closed by Commissioner Thyssen. Key speakers were a person experiencing poverty, DG ECFIN, Commissioner Dombrovskis’ Cabinet, the Social Protection Committee and members of EAPN. It was held in partnership with the EESC.

Following debate with the audience and speakers, strong support was given to the 3 main messages:

  • Ensure macroeconomic policies deliver on social objectives.
  • Demonstrate a strong social dimension: an integrated anti-poverty strategy and investment in social standards.
  • Get serious about participation and NGO involvement.

For more information, contact Policy Coordinator Sian Jones.

Read the Assessment here.

See the key messages here.

Access the presentations and press release from the conference launch here.