Roma inclusion and the European Pillar of Social Rights –
Thematic Snapshots social media campaign
In 2017, the European Union broke new ground by adopting the European Pillar of Social Rights (Social Pillar), the first set of social rights proclaimed by the EU institutions since the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the year 2000.
This comprehensive initiative of 20 social policy principles, complemented by a Social Scoreboard of 14 indicators, aims at supporting well-functioning and fair labour markets and welfare systems, with a focus on better integrating and delivering on social concerns.
The European Commission has pledged to make the Social Pillar “the compass of Europe’s recovery and our best tool to ensuring no one is left behind”, so that Europe’s future is socially fair and just.
Following up on this commitment, on 4 March 2021, the European Commission proposed the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, aiming to turn its 20 policy principles into concrete policy actions.
To support this process, ERGO Network has prepared a comprehensive analysis of the 20 principles of the Social Pillar, to ensure that their implementation specifically includes Roma concerns, and that meaningful interplay is sought with the EU Strategic Framework for Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation.
This thematic analysis was released weekly as separate “Snapshots” on our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram), as part of a campaign that ran from 9 November 2021 to 15 February 2022. Each Snapshot includes relevant European statistics, a brief problem statement, as well as concrete policy recommendations:
- Education, Training, and Lifelong Learning
- Gender Equality and Work-Life Balance
- Equal Opportunities
- Active Support to Employment
- Secure and Adaptable Employment, Wages, and Work Environment
- Social Dialogue and Employment Conditions
- Childcare and Support to Children
- Social Protection, Unemployment Benefits, and Minimum Income
- Old Age Income and Pensions
- Healthcare, Inclusion of People with Disabilities, Long-Term Care
- Housing and Assistance for the Homeless
- Access to Essential Services
We hope that the implementation of the Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights will be used as a true opportunity to ensure that Europe’s Roma are not left behind, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and recovery.
Further reading:
- ERGO Network, How to ensure that the European Pillar of Social Rights delivers on Roma equality, inclusion, and participation? (December 2020)
- ERGO Network, Response to the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan (March 2021)
For more information about ERGO Network’s work on the European Pillar of Social Rights, please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro.