European Semester – ERGO Network

EC Spring Package 2024 – What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

European Commission releases Spring Package 2024 – What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

On 19 June 2024, the European Commission published the so-called Spring Package, comprising the 27 Country Reports, 27 Country-Specific Recommendations, and the accompanying Communication on the Spring Package, in the framework of the 2024 European Semester. ERGO Network and its national members have reviewed the Package to see to which extent it explicitly mentions Roma rights and inclusion, ethnic minorities, discrimination, and racism, as well as to assess whether national civil society was involved in drafting the Country Reports.

Access the full analysis here

Key Findings

1. The Communication on the Spring Package mentions the Roma twice regarding their labour market participation and the impact of inflation—but nothing on health, housing, or education.

2. 8 Country Reports include references to the Roma (BG, CZ, GR, HU, IE, RO, SK, SI) in 2024, one more than in 2023, but still insufficient as Roma live in 26 EU Member States.

3. There is 1 Country-Specific Recommendation (SK) on Roma, who are also mentioned in 6 Preambles (BG, CZ, GR, HU, RO, SK), a significant step up from 2023 (only one Preamble, HU).

4. Ethnic minorities feature in 4 Country Reports (BG, DE, EE, FI) and no CSRs, while discrimination is mentioned in 7 CRs (AT, HU, IE, NL, SK, ES, SE) and two Preambles (AT, NL).

5. Civil society was poorly associated to the drafting of the Country Reports, but it is mentioned in 8 of them (CZ, DK, GR, HU, IE, LV, SK, SI), and in all Preambles except CY & ES).

Overall, while our members welcome references to Roma communities in more countries, they lament that most of the Spring Package 2024 doesn’t explicitly mention them, whereas the Roma are present in all Member States except Malta and experience rates of poverty and social exclusion of over 80% in most of them, and almost 100% in some. This situation was exacerbated by the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the rising cost of living and energy price spikes. As the Package itself highlights these very challenges, it would have warranted more attention paid to one of Europe’s most left-behind communities.

The recurrent focus on competitiveness as well as productivity, and curbing public spending spells dire times for social inclusion, human rights, and equality. It is our members’ experience that, unless the Roma are explicitly named as key target beneficiaries of support measures, and unless specific measures and resources are dedicated to them, mainstream initiatives and broad national and EU funds end up not reaching them. Europe’s Roma must be specifically prioritised in the EU’s Recovery Package and associated funds if the EU is serious about delivering on its commitments for Roma equality, inclusion, and participation by 2030.

Our members equally express disappointment that issues of discrimination and antigypsyism are largely absent from the present Package, while these phenomena have increased in recent years. The fact that the country analyses and recommendations do not seek to establish explicit synergies with the EU and national Roma Frameworks and with the National Action Plans against Racism is considered a significant missed opportunity.

Finally, they deplore the lack of recognition and support given to civil society organisations in the two country documents, given that most of them are not only on the frontlines, providing essential support to communities in need, but they equally possess the knowledge, expertise, and direct links to beneficiaries which are needed to inform the design of sustainable and effective public policies.

For more information about ERGO Network’s work on the European Semester and associated frameworks (European Pillar of Social Rights, Sustainable Development Goals etc), please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro.

European Commission releases Autumn Package 2024: What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

On 21 November 2023, the European Commission published the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey, accompanied by the draft Joint Employment Report (among other annexes), launching the next European Semester 2024. The Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) highlights the main policy priorities for the European Union for the year to come, and it outlines the main tools for implementing these objectives. The Communication also outlines the key aspects of the 2024 European Semester cycle and confirms the commitment to the four complementary dimensions of environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness, and macroeconomic stability.

Read our full response to the Autumn Package here!

ERGO Network warmly welcomes the explicit mention of the Roma in this year’s Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (page 9) in the context of supporting their access to employment. We further appreciate wording on the Union of Equality (page 7), which includes the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation and the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan, though they are sadly not mentioned explicitly. However, disappointingly, discrimination, racism, or antigypsyism are not mentioned at all.

As every year, the main focus of the document is on the green and digital transitions. Social concerns are dealt with under the Fairness section (one of the four dimensions of the European Semester), which is rather narrowly dedicated to employment and skills. Nevertheless, we appreciate calls to strengthen collective bargaining and to raise wage levels, support adequate social protection and social inclusion, and improve access to quality early childhood education and care (although this is clearly done from a labour market perspective rather than children’s rights).

We are very pleased to see Europe’s Roma mentioned multiple times in the Joint Employment Report, concerning issues such as their heightened risk of experiencing poverty and social exclusion (including that of children), low participation of Roma children in early childhood education and care, early school leaving, need for better access to desegregated housing, low employment rates, difficulties in accessing essential social services. Additionally, strong links are made to the EU Strategic Framework on Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation and its targets throughout the text, coupled with references to the Council Recommendation and recent Council Conclusions. Regrettably, though, there is no mention of antigypsyism or racism, and only 12 references to discrimination, however, one of them referring specifically to the plight of the Roma.

The ASGS explicitly urges Member States to “actively engage with stakeholders, including social partners, local and regional authorities, as well as relevant civil society organisations” throughout the European Semester and the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (our bold). This is very positive, as are the several references to civil society in the draft Joint Employment Report.

The ASGS also provides some clarity about the future of the European Semester, as well as what are the key steps and milestones to be expected for 2024. As usual, this will include the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, that of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, and that of the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, the 2024 Semester will also look at the Cohesion Policy programmes, exploring how they complement the Recovery and Resilience Facility, with a view to feeding into the mid-term review of the current programming period (2021-2027).

ERGO Network will continue to advocate for a stronger focus on Roma rights and inclusion in the framework of these processes and for stronger synergies between the European Semester and the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation, the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan, and other relevant policies.

For more information about ERGO Network’s work on EU social inclusion and employment policy (European Semester, European Pillar of Social Rights, Sustainable Development Goals etc), please contact Senior Policy Adviser Amana Ferro.

EC Spring Package 2023 – What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

European Commission releases Spring Package 2023 – What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

On 24 May 2023, the European Commission published the so-called Spring Package, comprising the 27 Country Reports, 27 Country-Specific Recommendations, and the accompanying Communication on the Spring Package, in the framework of the 2023 European Semester. ERGO

Network and its national members have reviewed the Package, to see to which extent it explicitly mentions Roma rights and inclusion, ethnic minorities, discrimination, and racism, as well as to assess whether national civil society was involved in the drafting of the Country Reports.

Access the full analysis here.

Key Findings

The Communication on the Spring Package mentions the Roma once, in the context of improving their labour market participation – nothing on health, housing, education, poverty.
7 Country Reports include references to the Roma (BG, CZ, GR, HU, IE, RO, SK) in 2023, the same number as in 2022, but still insufficient as Roma live in 26 EU Member States.
Only one Preamble to Country-Specific Recommendations (HU) mentions the Roma, a step down from 2022, when Hungary received an actual Recommendation on Roma inclusion.
Ethnic minorities, discrimination, and racism are absent from all documents, with only discrimination mentioned in passing in the Country Reports for Belgium and Slovakia.
Civil society organisations were poorly associated to the drafting of the Country Reports, and the Spring Package references to their role are few and vague (4 Country Reports, no CSR).

Overall, while our members welcome references to Roma communities in some countries, they lament that most of the Spring Package 2023 doesn’t explicitly mention them, whereas the Roma are present in all Member States except Malta, and experience rates of poverty and social exclusion of over 80% in all of them except the Czech Republic. This situation was exacerbated by the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the rising cost of living and energy price spikes. As the Package itself highlights these very challenges, it would have warranted more attention paid to one of Europe’s most left-behind communities.

The recurrent focus on supporting just transitions and mitigating the consequences for vulnerable groups is very positive, however it is our members’ experience that, unless the Roma are explicitly named as key target beneficiaries of support measures, mainstream initiatives and broad national and EU funds end up not reaching them. Europe’s Roma must be specifically prioritised in the EU’s Recovery Package and associated funds, if the EU is serious about delivering on its commitments for Roma equality, inclusion, and participation by 2030.

Our members equally express disappointment that issues of discrimination and antigypsyism are not present in the Package, while these phenomena have increased in recent years. The fact that the country analyses and recommendations do not seek to establish explicit synergies with the EU and national Roma Frameworks, and with the National Action Plans against Racism, is considered a tremendous missed opportunity.

Finally, they deplore the lack of recognition and support given to civil society organisations in the documents, given that most of them are not only on the frontlines, providing essential support to communities in need, but they equally possess the knowledge, expertise, and direct links to beneficiaries which are needed to inform the design of public policies and ensure both ownership and effectiveness of interventions.

Annual Sustainable Growth Survey 2023: What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

European Commission releases Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) 2023: What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

On 22 November 2022, the European Commission published the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey 2022, accompanied by the draft Joint Employment Report 2022 (among other annexes), as part of the Autumn Package launching the European Semester 2022. The Annual Sustainable Growth Survey reaffirms that “the European Semester and the Recovery and Resilience Facility continue to provide a robust framework for effective policy coordination in view of the current challenges”, while it also confirms the commitment to the four complementary dimensions of the European Semester: environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness, and macroeconomic stability.

Read our full response to Autumn Package here!

ERGO Network warmly welcomes the explicit mention of the Roma in this year’s Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (page 11), in the context of supporting their access to employment. We further appreciate wording about the implementation of the Union of Equality, which includes important strategies such as the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan and the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation among others. While these references are minimal, they are nonetheless commendable after two years in a row where the ASGS made no reference to the Roma or to these important strategies. However, disappointingly, discrimination, racism, or antigypsyism are not mentioned at all.

As every year, the main focus of the document is on the green and digital transitions. Social concerns are dealt with under the Fairness section (one of the four dimensions of the European Semester), which is rather narrowly dedicated to employment and skills. Nevertheless, we appreciate calls to strengthen collective bargaining and to raise wage levels, to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare and long-term care systems, and to preserve and improve de adequacy of social safety nets, including pensions. It is a pity, however, that access to adequate and affordable housing is not mentioned, and that education continues to be understood in a limited sense of providing skills for jobs. We equally salute language about delivering affordable energy and mitigating the economic and social impact of high energy prices on vulnerable households.

We are very pleased to see Europe’s Roma mentioned multiple times in the Joint Employment Report, concerning issues such as their heightened risk of experiencing poverty and social exclusion (including that of children), gaps in educational outcomes, early school leaving, school segregation, discrimination in accessing healthcare, and labour market integration. Additionally, strong links are made to the EU Strategic Framework on Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation, as part of the Union of Equality. Very disappointingly though, there is no mention of antigypsyism or racism, and only four references to discrimination.

The ASGS reaffirms the European Commission’s commitment to “an inclusive process and the timely involvement of social partners and other relevant stakeholders during the European Semester cycle”, calling on Member States to “engage actively […] in particular representatives of civil society organisations, through regular exchanges” (our bold). This is very positive, as are the several references to civil society in the draft Joint Employment Report.

The ASGS also provides some clarity about the future of the European Semester, as well as what are the key steps and milestones to be expected for 2023. This year’s Semester will include the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, that of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, and that of the Sustainable Development Goals.

ERGO Network will continue to advocate for a stronger focus on Roma rights and inclusion much more in focus in the delivery of these initiatives, and for stronger synergies between the European Semester and the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion, and Participation.

European Commission releases Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) 2022

European Commission releases Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) 2022

What’s in it for Europe’s Roma?

On 24 November 2021, the European Commission published the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey 2022, accompanied by the draft Joint Employment Report 2022 (among other annexes), thus launching the European Semester 2022.

Read our full response to ASGS and the JER 2022 here!

The Annual Sustainable Growth Survey reaffirms that “the European Semester will remain the overall EU framework for the coordination of economic, employment and social policies”, while the Recovery and Resilience Facility remains “the key tool to implement the policy agenda” and is fully embedded in the European Semester. It also confirms the commitment to the four complementary dimensions of environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness, and macroeconomic stability.

For the second consecutive year, there is no mention of Europe’s Roma in this year’s Annual Sustainable Growth Survey and, unlike in previous years, there is equally no reference to ethnic or racial minority background. Similarly, the text contains no mention of antigypsyism or even discrimination anywhere in its content.

The main focus is on the green and digital transitions and, while social concerns are integrated as a component of these transitions and also have a dedicated section under the fairness objective, the prioritizing doesn’t seem to be at least on equal footing. The fairness section extensively covers education and training, as well as employment, however these are understood very narrowly from the perspective of their contribution to the twin transition. We appreciate the focus on combatting inequalities in education (including the digital divide) and the impetus to promote inclusion, diversity, and gender equality, as well as calls to stem energy poverty. However, we are missing references to ensuring access to fundamental services and rights, such as health or housing.

We are very pleased to see Europe’s Roma mentioned multiple times in the Joint Employment Report, concerning their heightened risk of experiencing poverty and social exclusion (including that of children), gaps in accessing education and training, school segregation, and the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic (including on employment and income levels). Additionally, strong links are made to the EU Strategic Framework on Roma Equality, Inclusion, and Participation. However, disappointingly, while the document is quite extensive in covering Roma poverty and education, other thematic objective of the EU Roma Framework – employment, housing, health – are not covered at all in the Report. Equally, there is no mention of antigypsyism or racism.

Regarding civil dialogue, the Annual Sustainable Growth Survey only mentions civil society once, while the systematic involvement of social partners is much more consistently stressed. In the draft Joint Employment Report, civil society involvement is much better covered, with multiple references to its instrumental role as an important asset in implementing social and employment policies.

The ASGS also provides some clarity about the future of the European Semester, as well as what are the key steps and milestones to be expected for 2022. This year’s Semester will include the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, that of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, and – as a new element – that of the Sustainable Development Goals.

ERGO Network will continue to engage closely with the European Semester 2022, and strive to bring Roma rights and inclusion much more in focus in the delivery of these initiatives, and for better alignment of the priorities of the Semester and those of the EU Strategic Framework for Roma Equality, Participation, and Inclusion.