26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

SOCIAL COHESION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN THE EU

Elena Roldn, PhD Teresa Garca PhD Universidad Complutense Madrid Spain
Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges
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26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

QUESTIONS

What type of commitment has the European Union acquired to make possible a balance between economic ibl b l b t i growth, social cohesion and social inclusion and to eradicate poverty and p y social exclusion? -Which data is available to assess Which progress and setbacks in the policy of eradication of poverty and social p y exclusion? - What is the road map to achieving progress in the social inclusion policies, and what is the Social Work implication and role definition in implementation of those policies ?

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

COMMITMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

March 2000.- European C M h 2000 E Council i Li b il in Lisbon: sustainable growth levels, more and better jobs and increased social cohesion j and Eradicating poverty and social exclusion by 2010. December 2001.Laeken European Council: 18 common statistical indicators of social exclusion and poverty have been approved. Open Method of Coordination: Member States agreed on common objectives and indicators for monitoring progress towards these objectives in the field of social protection and social inclusion inclusion.

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

STATISTICAL LIMITS

Internationally comparable data for I t ti ll bl d t f monitoring the economic situation and trends have been collected for about half a century.

By contrast, equivalent tools for monitoring social conditions are still in their infancy. y Over the past decade, the European Union has made major progress in producing internationally comparable data for social monitoring. But the availability of social data will continue to lag considerably behind key economic indicators.

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

Data available to assess progress and setbacks i the tb k in th policies of poverty eradication

Allows to study the main factor affecting poverty and social exclusion such as: risk of poverty, unemployment, low educational level, gender and age, etc. and the effect of social protection d h ff f i l i To measure the poverty the indicator used is At-risk-of-poverty rate which is defined as the share of persons with an equivalised disposable income below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold, which is set at 60% of the national median equivalised disposable income (after social transfers).

THE RISK OF POVERTY

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU Risk of poverty rate

Risk of poverty rate and unemployment Rose to 40% for the th unemployed l d

Year 2000 2005 2007

% 16% 16% 16%

Population 72,300,0 73,900,0 74,300,0

Unemployment rate EU February 2009 Netherlands 2.7%), ) Spain (15.5%) Latvia (14.4%) a Lithuania (13.7%).

Unemployment rate EU27 Year Y February 2009 February 2008 % 7.9% 6.8% Population P l ti 19,200,0 16,200,0

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

women are more at risk of poverty than men

Risk of poverty and gender

Women aged 65 and over have more risk of poverty in many countries: 30% -39%% of all those with income below % %% f the poverty threshold in Spain, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, and UK. Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Czech R C h Republic, Hungary and Slovakia this bli H d Sl ki thi percentage is between 8% -11 %,,

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

People over 65 ad children under 16 are more at risk of poverty than men

Population at risk of poverty by age group: P l ti t i k f t b old people and children

All the population aged over 6 h l i d 65. Children (under 16) face a higher risk of poverty than adults in many EU countries.: Highest percentage: Italy (25%) Poland (24%) Spain (24%) Greece (23%) ( ) UK (23%) . Lowest %: Scandinavian countries (9% - 11%)

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

Lower education level increase risk of poverty

Educational attainment l Ed ti l tt i t levels and risk of l d i k f exclusion Data Year 2006 78% of young people (20-24) had at least an upper secondary qualification. pp yq 15% of people 18-24 left the education system with only lower secondary education at best best. Highest %low-qualified young people Malta (30% or more) Portugal(30% or more) Spain (30% or more) In virtually all Member States, women are less likely than men to be in this situation.

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

The reduction of the percentage of people at risk of poverty: Less than 25 % in Latvia and Estonia and some Mediterranean countries (Greece, Spain, It l C S i Italy, Cyprus, Malta and Portugal) Greatest reduction: Sweden 69 %, Czech Republic, p Denmark, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia and Finland 50 %

Risk-of-poverty and social protection: the redistributive effect

Social protection expenditure in the EU represented about 27 % of GDP in 2004, a proportion that grew by 2.6 % compared with 2000. 2000 The largest proportion was recorded in Sweden

Social policies in Europe allow nearly one third of population to leave poverty: almost 34 million people.
In 2005 social transfers reduced the at-risk-ofpoverty rate for the EU population : from 26 % before transfers to 16 % after transfers. As such, social transfers lifted 38 %off persons p y with low income above the poverty line
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Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

Progress and reforms: eradicating poverty and social exclusion. exclusion The role and involvement of Social Work

There. are problem areas in which action must be still taken: At-risk-of-poverty rate still high and increasing Labour market participation and decreasing unemployment Disadvantages in education and training; Child poverty, which still persists; p y, p ; Gender inequalities persist Integration of people with disabilities, disabilities ethnic minorities and immigrants

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

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26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

Progress and reforms: eradicating poverty and social exclusion. exclusion The role and involvement of Social Work

The key challenge for social policies is to . ensure genuine equality of opportunity and emphasise the role of employment as a key factor for social inclusion. The acknowledge of this policy context is essential in the background of the social workers.

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

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26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

Progress and reforms: eradicating poverty and social exclusion. exclusion The role and involvement of Social Work

It is important to implement theoretical and reflexive framework for the professional as well as the cognitive and analytical tools necessary to understanding the current context i which professional intervention t t in hi h f i li t ti takes place. It is essential to be able to cooperate in the design of social inclusion policies and incorporate in the curricula competence

Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges

13

26-29 April 2009, Dubrovnik

Social cohesion and Social exclusion in the EU

Progress and reforms: eradicating poverty and social exclusion. exclusion The role and involvement of Social Work

Analyse the impact of new economic and . social crisis of the welfare model. Assess the future of the welfare state in Europe . Study the consequences of his context for the th performance of the social work. f f th i l k Understand the different areas of the social policy as areas of intervention of the social work An analysis of the today situation could aid to inspire prospective social workers to take p p p up a policy practice And as well to create networks and lobby to press the EU to achieve the commitment for eradicating the poverty and social exclusion by 2010
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Social action in Europe: different legacies & common challenges