Social protection and social inclusion

Social protection systems through pensions, health care and care for the elderly contribute strongly to solidarity and social cohesion, one of the main characteristics of the European Social Model.

Securing the long-term sustainability of social protection systems is the main challenge faced by the Members States, recognising the necessity to modernise and adapt them to the new needs of an ageing society.

Therefore they agreed to improve their co-operation at European level, applying the Open Method of Co-ordination to social protection, where social partners are closely associated.

In parallel, Member States recognised the need for combating poverty and social exclusion, with the adoption of the Open Method of Co-ordination in order to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty and social exclusion by 2010. Each Member State has to set up a two-year National Actions Plan for combating poverty and social exclusion.

Position Papers

• February 2008: UEAPME reply to the Commission’s 2nd consultation to promote the active inclusion of the people furthest from the labour market
  
  
• December 2006: UEAPME position paper on the commission’s communication “The demographic future of Europe – from challenge to opportunity”
  
  
• April 2006: UEAPME position on the Commission’s consultation on action at EU level to promote the active inclusion of the people furthest from the labour market
  
  
• February 2006: UEAPME position paper on the proposal for a directive on improving the portability of supplementary pension rights
  
  
• January 2006: UEAPME Position Paper on the Commission's communication: 'Working together, working better''
  
  
• July 2005: UEAPME Position on the Commission Green Paper on Demographic Change
  
  
• June 2005: UEAPME Position Paper on the streamlining of the open method of coordination in the field of social protection
  

• July 2004: UEAPME's position on the Communication on Health Care

• April 2004: UEAPME's Position on the communicaton from the Commission "increasing the employmet of older workers and delaying the exit from the labour market"aussi disponible en Français

• November 2003: UEAPME's response to the Commission Second Stage Consultation on the portability of Occupational Pension Rights
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• September 2003: Position of the European social partners on the Commission communication on streamlining of open coordination in the field of social protection
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• August 2002: UEAPME RESPONSE TO THE FIRST COMMISSION CONSULTATION OF THE SOCIAL PARTNERS ON THE PORTABILITY OF SUPPLEMENTARY PENSION RIGHTS

Press releases

• 02/07/08: Renewed social agenda: a forward-looking approach with some limits
  
  
• 19/11/07: Report shows SMEs are active promoters of diversity and non-discrimination
  
  
• 20/06/07: Plenary vote on supplementary pension rights a missed opportunity
  
  
• 21/03/07: Disappointing outcomes from EP Committee vote on pensions rights transferability
  
  
• 19/01/06: Flexicurity must be a cornerstone for economic development
  
  
• 05/03/04: Active Ageing: UEAPME welcomes Commission's communication and presses Member States for action

Publications

• November 2007: UEAPME Compendium of good practices of diversity and non-discrimination initiatives in European Crafts, SMEs and their organisations