Presentation Sian Jones (Policy coordination and advocacy work, EAPN) on the occasion of the EESC hearing on European minimum income and poverty indicators (Brussels, 28 May 2013)

1. EESC Hearing
28 May 2013
EAPN Proposals for an EU
framework on Minimum Income
and Proposals on Indicators
Sian Jones,
EAPN Policy Coordinator

2. Outline
 Who is EAPN?
Why adequate minimum income is vital?
Towards an EU Framework Directive
What legal base?
EAPN proposals on indicators

3. Who is EAPN?
 Independent EU Network of NGOs committed
to fight against poverty and social exclusion,
with and for people in poverty.
 Started in 1990 – key actor in poverty
programmes and development of social OMC.
 Receives financial support from the European
Commission (PROGRESS)
 29 National Networks and 18 European
NGOs as members.
 Participation of people with direct experience
of poverty must be part of the solution.

4. Why is Minimum Income Vital?
Adequate income for a dignified life is a
Fundamental Right
Provides the means/security/ to participate in
work and society, confidence to plan for the future
Ensures a positive hierarchy for decent wages
A key tool to eradicate poverty – now 120
million people and growing (EU), MS with better
MI/SP have lower poverty rates.
Operates as an automatic stabiliser – provides
an essential floor for consumption/economy
 Key pillar of the European Social Model -
foundation for a fairer, more cohesive society

5. Why an Adequate Minimum Income?
Sufficient to lead a life in dignity and to cover
essential needs fixed in line with living standards of
different households,
Supplementary amounts for specific needs – eg
children, housing, energy costs.
EP Resolution recommends relative benchmark –
at risk of poverty /60% of household income.
Standard Budgets approach: eg Joseph Rowntree:
establishes a weekly budget for a variety of different
types of families: www.minimumincomestandard.org

6. Why an EU Framework on MI ?
 Insufficient progress on adequate MI, (HU, EL,)and rates
below poverty level, declining coverage/generosity with austerity.
 Despite EU2020 target, poverty increased to 119 million (4
million since 2011)
 EU needs to provide a level playing field to guarantee
mobility/social rights/ prevent unnecessary economic migration
 Support from key EU institutions: EP, EESC and CoR.
 Social imbalances undermining sustainable recovery and
inclusive growth
 EU needs concrete ACTION on SOCIAL STANDARDS to
confirm EU social dimension

7. What could an EU framework look like?
 An EU Framework Directive to guarantee equal access to
all within the EU to an Adequate Minimum Income:
- Guarantee relative minimum standard at least at poverty
threshold (60% median income)
–Agree common definition and criteria for adequacy
–Develop common indicators
–Agree principles of common methodology to develop
national standards of goods and services, based on
participative reference budget method.
–Common EU monitoring framework/through Social OMC/
linked to Europe 2020
–Linked to Integrated Active Inclusion Approach.

8. EU/UN support for MI as Fundamental Right
UN Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25)
CoE Social Charter (Article 13)
Council Recommendation 92/441/EEC – June 92 –
“right to sufficient resources and social assistance to
live in a manner compatible with human dignity”
2008 Commission Recommendation to promote
active inclusion of people excluded from the labour
market
Charter of Fundamental Rights Article 34

9. EU Framework Directive – legal base (1)
- Article 1: Human dignity is inviolable, it must be protected and
respected
- Article 34/3 – Recognizes the right to social and housing
assistance so as to ensure a decent existence for all those who
lack sufficient resources.
- New Horizontal Social Clause (Art 9 TFEU)
“in defining and implementing its policies and activities, the union
shall take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a
high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social
protection, the fight against social exclusion and a high level of
education, training, and protection of human health”
- TEU Article 3/3 – EU objectives: it shall combat social exclusion
and discrimination, promote social justice and protection

10. EU Framework Directive - legal base (II)
 TFEU Article 151”
Union having in mind fundamental social rights….shall have as their
objectives the promotion of employment, improved living and working
conditions, so at to make possible .. proper social protection…with a
view to lasting high employment and the combating of exclusion.
 TFEU Article 153, h– provides a legal framework and basis
for new policy commitments by the Union in these areas
 TFEU Article 153 2 b EP and Council may adopt by means
of directives and minimum requirements for gradual
implementation including in the field of integration of people
excluded from labour market.
 TFEU Article 21: EU Citizenship: right to move/ reside freely
in the Union – insufficient access to social protection could
undermine this freedom (Schoukens P (2013 - Euroforum)
 Advantages: co-decision and qualified majority but
agreeing minimum levels ( Art 153, 1c) needs unanimity.

11.  Social Protection Floor – ILO Recommendation, 2012
 Article 5, states that social protection floors should
comprise the following basic social security guarantees
a) Access to nationally defined goods and services… essential
healthcare….meets criteria of availability, accessibility,
acceptability and quality.
b) Basic income security for children, at least to a nationally
defined minimum level, providing access to nutrition,
education, care and other necessary goods and services
c) Basic income security, at least to a nationally defined
minimum level, for persons in active age who are unable to
earn a sufficient income,
d) Basic income security, at least to a nationally defined
minimum level, for older persons.
ILO Social Protection Floor

12. Minimum Income Framework Directive –
EAPN Action
 EAPN Minimum Income campaign
www.adequateincome.eu
 2010 EU Year against poverty – core demand of NGO
coalition : www.endpoverty.eu
 EAPN legal advice Framework Directive (June 2010)
 Adequacy of Minimum Income Explainer and leaflet
 EP Hearing with Greens, input into EP Report, CoE,
EESC
 Joint work with Belgian Presidency and EU conference
 Peer Review on Ref budgets +Annual Convention
 Lobbying on follow up on MI in SIP
 EMIN: New Commission/EP Project coordinated by EAPN:
http://emin-eu.net/

13. EU Framework for Minimum Income –
Increasing support?
 EP Reports and Resolution on Active Inclusion and Minimum
Income (2008 and 2010) support adequate minimum income and
impact study by Commission on EU framework.
 CoR report on European Platform Against Poverty (April 2011) –
supports framework directive
 EESC report on European Platform against poverty supports EP
Position.
 ETUC resolution supporting EU minimum income ( May 2011) but
falls short of supporting a directive.
 Peer Review on Reference Budgets for drawing up requirements
of a minimum income scheme and assessing adequacy. (Nov 2010)
 European Commission: As part of European Platform Against
Poverty, now part of SIP, Active Inclusion implementation – focus on
take up and coverage, and developing common methodology on
adequacy through standard budgets.
 European Council/Commission considering EU Social Standards.

14. EU 2020 Poverty Indicators – EAPN
Concerns
How far do they capture poverty?
Do they lead to creaming and gaming?
How consistent are they with the other
Europe 2020 targets?
Weak mainstreaming in Europe 2020
Indicator/targets alone not enough – we
need an EU/national anti-poverty strategy
How can we ensure that macroeconomic
targets/strategy enhance and do not
undermine poverty target?

15. EU 2020 Poverty Indicators –EAPN proposals
1) Consistency across EU targets require a
% reduction on all 3 indicators for all MS
2) Monitor yearly delivery on target, set
equal CSRs on poverty , and in NR/ AGS.
3) Develop an EU multidimensional strategy
to fight poverty to deliver on target and
require national strategies.
4) Ensure coherence between economic and
social objectives and governance, embed
effective ex-ante SI assessment.

16. Working Together for an EU Free of Poverty!
For More Information
Contact Sian Jones, Policy Coordinator
sian.jones@eapn.eu
0032 2 226 5859
Square de Meeus 18, 1050 Brussels
See: www.eapn.eu