EU Social Inclusion Policy

The aim of the European Union’s social policy is to promote employment, improve living and working conditions, provide an appropriate level of social protection and develop measures to combat exclusion.

In June 2010, the European Council adopted Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, which sets out the 10-year vision for Europe.

The Strategy contains five headline targets on:

• employment
• research and development
• climate change and energy efficiency
• education
• poverty reduction

The Europe 2020 poverty target is to lift 20 million people out of the risk of poverty or social exclusion by 2020. Member States were required to set national poverty targets to contribute to the overall Europe 2020 poverty target.

National Reform Programme

National progress on the Ireland’s contribution to the Europe 2020 poverty target is reported in the annual National Reform Programme (NRP) with an account of work underway across a range of policy domains to achieve this.

The annual Social Inclusion Monitor presents statistical analysis of trends in Ireland’s contribution to the EU target, with EU comparisons.

Social Reporting

Ireland reports to the Employment Affairs and Social Protection Committee (SPC) on the policies it is implementing in the areas of social protection, social inclusion, health and long-term care. These policies are linked with and supported by the broader economic and employment policies and targets set out in the NRP.

From 2016, the former National Social Reports (NSR) were replaced by targeted thematic reports.

Ireland collaborates with the European Commission and Member States to develop social policy and appropriate supporting indicators and monitoring tools. This is developed at the Employment Affairs and Social Protection Committee and its Indicators Sub-Group. An Open Method of Co-ordination (Social OMC) is used to co-ordinate policies and good practice on social inclusion, pensions, health and long-term care policy dimensions. This work feeds into the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO).

EU peer reviews are a key instrument in the Social OMC for promoting policy learning, capacity building and support for exchange of good practice. Ireland periodically hosts and participates in these reviews.

Annual conventions are held, as part of the Europe 2020 Strategy, to take stock of progress made towards the headline EU poverty target to promote inclusive growth.

Ireland is represented at the Convention.