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CDR854-2013_00_00_TRA_TCD
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EU local and regional authorities contributing to the
Mid-term review of Europe 2020
Assessment of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion flagship initiative
Over two years after its launch, the Committee of the Regions will take stock of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion flagship initiative at a conference to be held on 29May 2013 in Brussels. This conference will be the fourth in a series of CoR events and monitoring initiatives surrounding the mid-term review of Europe 2020 in 2014. More news on this conference can be found on the CoR website[1].
By participating in this survey, you will:
- ensure that your views are taken into account in the debate held during the conference;
- contribute to the fourth CoR Monitoring Report on Europe 2020, to be published in October 2013;
- contribute to the CoR's consultative activity in this field over the coming months;
- contribute to the mid-term review of Europe 2020 in 2014.
If you wish to participate in this survey, Please complete this questionnaire in any eu language, using the spaces provided, and return it in text format to:
by 22 April 2013
For more information on this survey and for details on how to join the
Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform, go to:
http://portal.cor.europa.eu/europe2020/
The questionnaire is available on this website in all official languages of the EU
Contributor information[2]
Name of sender: / Frances MurrayContact details:
(address, telephone, email) / Development Department
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP
T: +44 28 9032 0202 ext XX
On behalf of:
(name of local or regional authority) / Belfast City Council
Type of organisation / X City/Town/Municipality Region
County/Province
Association of local and/or regional authorities
Other (please specify)
Country: / United Kingdom
Member of the EUROPE 2020 Monitoring Platform: / X Yes No
Policy challenges and responses at regional and local level
BOX 1 – European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: basic informationThis is the first time ever that the objective of reducing poverty has been identified as a quantitative target under an EU strategy. The aim of the Europe 2020 flagship initiative, the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, is "to ensure economic, social and territorial cohesion in order to raise awareness and recognise the fundamental rights of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, enabling them to live in dignity and take an active part in society" [3]. In particular, it outlines actions to help Member States reach the EU target of reducing poverty and social exclusion by at least 20 million by the year 2020[4].
Although the average at-risk-of-poverty-and-social-exclusion rate in the EU has remained relatively stable in recent years, it varies significantly among different age groups and between the Member States. It has significantly increased in a number of countries over the last three to four years[5]: while the rate is under 20% in certain Member States such as Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg, it recently increased to 47% in Bulgaria, 40% in Latvia and 31% in Greece (2011). Furthermore, considerable differences exist between different regions in the Member States[6].
Today, the inhabitants of around one fifth of the EU's regions are particularly exposed to risks of poverty and social exclusion.
The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion feeds into the Europe 2020 objective of inclusive growth along with the Agenda for New Skills and Jobs flagship initiative. It will also help to achieve the other objectives of smart growth (alongside the Youth on the Move flagship initiative). In particular, it contributes to the objective of achieving the Europe 2020 headline target to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and social exclusion.
The main objectives and lines of action of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion are highlighted in Box 2 below.
EU regional and local governments are responsible for about one fifth of total government expenditure for social protection and services and therefore play an important role in helping to achieve the objectives of the flagship initiative[7].
You can find more information on the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, as seen from the local and regional authorities' viewpoint, on the European Commission's Europe 2020 portal[8] and in the Committee of the Regions' publication Delivering on the Europe 2020 Strategy. Handbook for Local and Regional Authorities[9]. General information on Europe 2020 can be found on the strategy's official website[10] and on the website of DG Employment.[11].
1) What are the main challenges currently facing your region/city in terms of (i) preventing child poverty (ii) providing decent housing conditions and (iii) combating the social exclusion of vulnerable groups?
(i) Preventing child poverty: Child poverty has increased over the years and the NI Executive has developed a Child Poverty Strategy. Currently they are preparing a Child Poverty Outcomes Model to measure the effectiveness of the strategy. However, for Belfast and Northern Ireland to reach the targets under the UK Child Poverty Bill, a lot more needs done. 1) Worklessness and in-work poverty; 2) Child care and fuel costs; 3) Healthier choices and affordability; 4) educational attainment and lack of aspirations; 5) lack of joined-up working; 6) Welfare Reform Bill; 7) Social cohesion
A recent report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies found that after London, Northern Ireland will be the hardest hit by tax and benefit cuts announced and to be implemented under the Welfare Reform Bill. This is for two reasons: the high numbers of those in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), especially for mental health disorders, and the high number of families with children who will be adversely affected by cuts to social security.
· The Institute for Fiscal Studies[12] has noted that while households in Northern Ireland will be no more affected than the UK average by tax and benefit changes to be introduced between 2010 and 2013, measures to be introduced in 2013–15, will leave Northern Ireland having the second highest average loss as a percentage of income within the UK.
(ii) Providing decent housing conditions: Fuel poverty; public/private ownership; funding and availability of resources; age of housing tenures; planning decisions; Welfare Reform. These are all issues that prevent NI ensure that all housing is of decent quality.
(iii) Combating the social exclusion of vulnerable groups: very complex issue, sometimes it is just a challenge to know where the vulnerable groups are. The council has done a lot to tackle social exclusion of Traveller community, but there is a scope to do much more. The main challenges are: knowing who and where they are; right engagement mechanism; joint working
2) Please briefly describe what type of policy programmes/actions are being implemented in your city/region in the policy areas covered by the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, highlighting their specific contribution to the above targets (see Box 1).
A. Child Poverty strategy by the NI Executive with the aim of eradicating child poverty by 2020. The aim of it is to provide opportunity for all our children and young people to thrive and to address the causes and consequences of disadvantage. There are four key priorities:
· Ensure that poverty and disadvantage in childhood does not translate into poorer outcomes for children as they move into adulthood
· Support more parents to be in work that pays or is better paid
· Ensure that children’s environment supports them to thrive
· Target financial support to be responsive to family situations
B. The NI Executive’s Delivering Social Change Framework will focus on two key outcomes: sustained reduction in poverty and improvement in children and young people’s health and life opportunities
C. Belfast City Council has been developing Council’s Poverty and Inequalities framework that aims to support people in Belfast affected by poverty and:
1. Explains the supporting role and contributions council can make in supporting residents (while recognising the key role of other agencies);
2. Describes specific actions we are already taking (either directly or in a supporting or advocacy role) and new actions we will be committing to; and
3. Outlines a method for measuring the impact of these actions.
D. The Belfast Strategic Partnership (BSP) has, through Belfast Health Development Unit (BHDU), developed a draft Framework for Action to address life inequalities (2011-2015). The Framework highlights addressing poverty as one of the cross cutting key themes, with a focus on:
· employability
· education and links to poverty
· fuel poverty
· access to services
· sharing experience and good practice from other jurisdictions both nationally and internationally
BHDU has started preparing plans for addressing poverty and have devised a poverty screening tool for all their steering groups to use when developing specific projects.
3) Are any of the policy programmes/actions described in the above question carried out in partnership with different tiers of government and/or with other stakeholders (regional or local NGOs, representatives of the social partners, the business sector or service providers). If yes, please state (a) the administrative levels involved (b) the practical arrangements taken to manage such joint action (c) who the main partners were and (d) how you worked with them (work organisation and time).
Belfast Strategic Partnership (BSP) was established by Belfast City Council, the Public Health Agency and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to address the significant levels of inequality across Belfast. The BSP brings together a range of partners from the voluntary, community and statutory sectors.
(a) Administrative levels involved: The BSP works across 5 Thematic areas: Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing; Lifelong Learning; Alcohol and Drugs; Early Years and Early Intervention; Regeneration and Healthy Urban Environments. Each Thematic area has a steering group with members representing the voluntary, community and/or statutory sectors. The BSP also has 6 cross-cutting themes: Addressing Poverty; Building Community Capacity; Organisational Development; Active Belfast; Healthy Ageing; Health and Health Equity in all Local Policies. Some of these have undertaken a considerable amount of collaborative work and all of them contribute to the work of the Thematic Groups.
(b) Practical arrangements taken to manage each joint action: Each Thematic Group has joint Chairs representing different sectors; the work of BSP is supported by the staff team at the BHDU.
(c) Main partners: Belfast City Council, the Public Health Agency and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust are the 3 main partners of BSP.
(d) Working together: Belfast City Council is one of the main partners in the BSP. The Chief Executive co-Chairs the BSP and the Director of Environmental Health is the Council’s lead on the Executive Programme Group. A number of other officers participate in the BSP’s Thematic and Cross-Cutting Groups. The BHDU team is located in Council premises and some of the team members are employed by Council.
4) Ensuring effective access to and participation in cultural activities for all is an essential part of promoting an inclusive society. In what way can participation in cultural and creative activities be instrumental for helping people and communities overcome poverty and social exclusion? Please refer to specific examples and existing initiatives.
Belfast City Council is also responsible for administration of the local Peace III Action Plan and one of its four themes is Shared Cultural Space. Current projects within this theme include:
Project / LEAD / Budget / Aims
Belfast Migrant & Minority Ethnic Project / Good Relations Unit / £150,000 / The project aims to build positive relations within the city by supporting the inclusion and integration of new communities.
City of Festivals / Tourism, Culture & Arts / £300,000 / The project aims to enhance shared cultural space through the provision of a wide range of vibrant, open and welcoming festivals, which will celebrate and promote local cultures and communities and run parallel to the wider civil celebrations of 2012 and 2013.
Creative Legacies Programme / Tourism, Culture & Arts / £300,000 / This audience development project will use arts and culture as a means of helping communities to develop shared cultural spaces and a sense of belonging to the city.
Roots of Empathy / Belfast Health Trust / £107,000 / This is a schools based programme to raise social/emotional competence and increase empathy among children to engender a positive understanding of diversity and to teach children to respect one another and to build a culture of caring.
How is the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion relevant to your city or region?
BOX 2 - European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: main objectives and actionsThe specific objectives of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion are[13] [14]:
· to support the eradication of child poverty. Over 20 million children are at risk of poverty in Europe today. This risk rises to 25% for children who live in large families and is over 30% in the case of children who live in single parent families;
· to promote the active inclusion in society and on the labour market of the most vulnerable groups since unemployment is the principal cause of poverty among the working-age population. The risk of poverty for the unemployed is more than five times greater than in the case of people in employment;
· to provide decent housing for everyone. Homelessness and housing exclusion represent one of the most extreme forms of poverty and have increased in recent years. Fuel poverty, which risks depriving households not only of heating or air conditioning but also hot water, light and other essential domestic necessities, is another example of severe deprivation;
· to overcome discrimination and increase the social integration of people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, immigrants and other vulnerable groups. For example, older people face a higher risk of poverty compared to the overall population; moreover, in some countries older people are at particular risk of material deprivation;
· to tackle financial exclusion and over-indebtedness which arise from a lack of access to basic banking services, a situation which has been aggravated by the recent crisis. It can also be an obstacle to finding a job and thus lead to persistent marginalisation and poverty;
· to promote the integration of Roma. Certain ethnic minorities, of whom Roma are the largest group, and migrant people in general, are disproportionately affected by multiple deprivation.
The specific actions and tools at EU level are structured as follows[15] [16]:
· improved access to work, social security, essential services (healthcare, housing, etc.) and education;
· better use of EU funds to support social inclusion and combat discrimination;
· social innovation to identify smart solutions in post-crisis Europe, especially in terms of more effective and efficient social support;
· new partnerships such as those between the public and the private sector;
· enhanced policy coordination among the Member States;
· provision of food to the most deprived people, as well as clothing and other essential goods to homeless people and materially-deprived children[17].
5) Which of the objectives and lines of action of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion (listed in Box 2) are most relevant for the current situation in your region/city? To what extent have they encouraged you to set more ambitious policy goals at regional/local level? Please explain your answer.
I think the most relevant objectives in my region are ‘to support the eradication of child poverty’ as this is a big issue in Belfast as West Belfast is the second highest area in the UK for child poverty according to a report from the End Child Poverty campaign with a recorded figure of 43% of children growing up in poverty in West Belfast. ‘To promote the active inclusion in society and on the labour market of the most vulnerable groups’ is also relevant for our region as unemployment is the principal cause of poverty among the working age population and Northern Ireland unemployment rates are currently they have been in fifteen years with West Belfast listed as one of the worst constituencies for unemployment in the UK. ‘To provide decent housing for everyone’ is also very relevant as the number of households in Northern Ireland accepted as homeless is up 11 percent from last year — increasing from 8,934 to 9,914. From these objectives, I feel the most relevant lines of actions are ‘provision of food to the most deprived people, as well as clothing and other essential goods to homeless people and materially-deprived children’ and also ‘improved access to work, social security, essential services and education.’
BOX 3 – Social Investment Package[18] [19]: