Active inclusion strategies: a way back to employment

Active inclusion is of fundamental importance to social cohesion…

The objective of the active inclusion strategy is to facilitate the integration into sustainable, quality employment of those who can work and provide resources which are sufficient to live in dignity, together with support for social participation, for those who cannot. As of 2008, Member States have agreed to implement this strategy. The Eurocities Network of Local Observatories on Active Inclusion (Eurocities-NLAO) organised a focus grouping order to evaluate the implementation of the European Active Inclusion Strategy.

Main findings of the survey were:

• Cities are aware of and have some knowledge of the European Active Inclusion strategy but they are not very familiar with the details;
• The European Active Inclusion strategy is in line with cities’ priorities on social inclusion;
• The European Active Inclusion strategy has the potential to add value to local level strategies for social inclusion;
• Implementing active inclusion strategies at local level is of fundamental importance for social and territorial cohesion.
  
  
  
  

…and a pay-off investment in times of rising unemployment

As a result of the crisis, it can be expected that the number of people in need of active inclusion will rise in the near future. However, cities are facing budget cuts that decrease their ability to provide this type of social service. The rationale to make more money available for active inclusion is that, by helping people to integrate into the labour market and society, the strategy should be considered as a pay-off investment.

Contact Person

Mirte Kortbeek
T: +32 2 552 08 79
E: mirte.kortbeek@eurocities.eu

Publication Date

December 2010

Document Type

Policy Document