TSEN
Regional Event Series 2009 Preparing for the European Year Combating
Poverty and Social Exclusion -
TSEN & LVSTC Event - April
30 London
TSEN & MNE Event July
9/10 Merseyside
TSEN.
CEFET & EAPN Sept 24 - Nottingham
TSEN,
LVSTC & EAPN Dec 1 London
Overview of the Year
The Lisbon European Council (2000) made the commitment
to ‘make a decisive impact on the eradiation of poverty’
by 2010, establishing an Open Method of Co-ordination in the area
of Poverty and Social Exclusion. For a descirption of the Open Method
of Co-ordination method, please see the Process
and Instruments section.
Budget
The European
Year for combating poverty and Social Exclusion aims to reaffirm
this commitment by making available €17 million, of which €9
million will finance activities in the Member states (matched by
domestic contributions) €750,807 of which has been allocated
to the UK. This translates as a total available in the UK of £1.2
million. There will be a small grants programme (perhaps around
£10,000-£50,000 per grant).
Objectives
- Recognition of the rights of people in poverty
and social exclusion to live in dignity and to play a full part
in society
- Increase in the public ownership of social inclusion
policies, emphasising everyone’s responsibility in tackling
poverty and marginalisation
- A more cohesive society, by raising awareness
of the benefits for all of a society where poverty is eradicated
- Commitment of all actors, because real
progress requires a long term effort involving all levels of governance
Planned
Activities
- Awareness-raising campaigns and studies
- Innovative schemes to promote social inclusion
- Conferences
- Competitions to identify success stories.
(see below
for the UK aims and priority themes)
Management
The
European Commission
will coordinate the Year and focus on Community level action. It
will be assisted by an EU level Committee, composed of Member States
representatives appointed by each National Implementing Body (NIB).
Non-governmental
organisations will be involved in dialogue with the Commission
itself, from the designing to the evaluation of the Year.
Member
states shall appoint the NIB, responsible for defining the National
programme and priorities and for the selection of individual level
actions.
The
NIB for the UK will be the inclusion team from the Department for
Work and Pensions. The NIB has an advisory body comprising of NGO
stakeholders, involving European Anti Poverty Network and the Social
Policy Task force.
A
strategic
framework document is available to provide practical guidance
on European Year activities and to ensure that national programmes
are consistent with European Year objectives and the European Strategy
for Social protection and Social Inclusion.
UK Aims &
Priority Themes
The
UK aims of the European Year are poverty awareness and grassroot
participation, with the priority themes taken from the UK
National Action Plan on Inclusion and are as follows:
- Increasing
labour market participation
- Child
poverty
- Access
to quality services
- Equalities
European
Anti Poverty Network
DG
Employment, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities (Commission
department co-ordinating the Year)
Decision
on the European Year |
