Press

Social policies – Social Europe guide – Volume 5  

Social policies are not a cost but an investment for better social cohesion in our societies: a fact re-enforced by the Social Investment Package. The Package is a much needed opportunity to integrate social and economic policies at EU and Member State level. Especially in times of economic crisis, budgetary surveillance has to be complemented by, and compatible with, investments in social protection, social promotion, quality and affordable services, and active inclusion policies. In the last years many Member States implemented austerity measures cutting public expenditure in social and health services, social protection and education contributing to the increase of poverty, social exclusion, inequalities and unemployment.

To be effective we must go beyond short term approaches and implement long term, sustainable and structural change.  This means addressing not only poverty but inequality – both in terms of access to resources and discrimination.

Social investment is not just an economic tool to encourage better, more impactful social returns on investment but must be seen as a driver (with a rights based approach) to combatting poverty, social exclusion and ensuring well-being.  Social investment must be part of a larger social welfare state “package” based on different pillars that are interconnected, mutually reinforcing and cannot be dealt with separately: being careful not to prioritise social investment over other elements of our European Social Models such as social protection.

Finally, efforts to address social challenges will not succeed unless the people who are most affected, and the organizations that work for and with them, are involved. This link is essential and can be achieved through meaningful stakeholder engagement resulting in ambitious action by the EU and Member States to redress the imbalance between economic and social goals.  

Heather Roy

President