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Civil society organisations must be meaningfully involved in the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights if it is to bring about real change to the lives on people in Europe: this was the message delivered by top European Union policy-makers and stakeholders at the European Commission’s third Annual Convention on Inclusive Growth today [27 April].

This year’s Annual Convention focused on “the road to implementation” of the Social Pillar, which aims to deliver new and improve existing social rights for people in the EU. Following his participation in Social Platform’s General Assembly earlier this week [24 April], Joost Korte, Director-General of the Commission’s department for employment, social affairs and inclusion, shared with the Annual Convention his confidence that civil society can be counted on to make the Social Pillar a success.

As the leading civil society alliance fighting for social justice and participatory democracy in Europe, Social Platform advocates for a four-pronged approach to implement the Social Pillar, incorporating policy, governance, funding, and civil dialogue:

1. Introduce EU legislation to establish minimum social standards, and develop policy instruments to further the impact of the Social Pillar in Member States.
2. Effectively mainstream the principles of the Social Pillar in the European Semester, rebalancing social and economic priorities.
3. Invest in people, both at EU and national level.
4. Promote the meaningful involvement of civil society in the implementation of the Social Pillar, at EU and national level.

Social Platform President Jana Hainsworth, who features in the closing panel of the Annual Convention alongside European Parliament and Commission representatives, says:

“Following the proclamation of the Social Pillar during last November’s Social Summit, the theme of this Annual Convention couldn’t be more timely. Social Platform has long advocated for civil society organisations to play a bigger role in designing, implementing and monitoring social policies both at EU and national level. Today we have seen that our unique ability to involve rights-holders in decision-making is increasingly recognised by the EU institutions. We hope that the Annual Convention marks the beginning of a new chapter of cooperation between decision-makers and civil society organisations to ensure that the Social Pillar leaves no one behind.”

ENDS

Press enquiries
Helen Joseph
Communications & Media Officer, Social Platform
Tel. +32 (0) 489 77 26 94
Email helen.joseph@socialplatform.org

Download pdf version here.