SocialPlatform - Platform of European Social NGOs

Policy and action
Social Protection and Social Inclusion

In the field of social protection and social inclusion, the EU introduced in 2005 the so-called 'streamlined open method of coordination' in order to synchronise better the coordination work in three closely interrelated fields: social inclusion, pensions, and health and long-term care.

At EU level, the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) is a working method that has been developed in different EU policy areas. It consists of encouraging cooperation, the exchange of best practice and agreeing common targets and guidelines for Member States in order to achieve common objectives which have been fixed at EU level.

The overarching objectives of the OMC for social protection and social inclusion are to promote:

Social cohesion, equality between men and women and equal opportunities for all through adequate, accessible, financially sustainable, adaptable and efficient social protection systems and social inclusion policies;

Good governance, transparency and the involvement of stakeholders, including national and local social NGOs in the design, implementation and monitoring of policy related to social protection and social inclusion.

Effective and mutual interaction between the Lisbon objectives of greater economic growth, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and with the EU's Sustainable Development Strategy;

There are also specific objectives for each of the three strands: social inclusion, pension and health and long-term care.


Social Platform does not buy into the EU2020 agenda and makes four proposals for improvement [07/01/2010] >>Available language(s): Social Platform recommendations to reinforce the Social OMC [02/10/2009] >>Available language(s):


Social Platform urges ministers to make the fight against social exclusion a pillar of the EU economic strategy [28/01/2010] Social NGO coalition releases its key demands for the European Year Against Poverty [28/01/2010]


Eurostat statistics on social protection spending in Europe (2009) Commission Communication: A renewed commitment to social Europe: Reinforcing the Open Method of Coordination for Social Protection and Social Inclusio EAPN poverty explainer EAPN tool kit on engaging in the National Action Plans


Streamlined Open Method of Coordination (OMC)