EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network

Europe as Social Space

Introduction

Many see Europe as a threat to social policy. This undeserved image should be countered with the image of the EU as stimulating social values in Europe.

Description

What is the relationship between the European Union and social policy?

A recommendation report of the Dutch Council for Social Development, RMO, to the government on the relationship between the European Union and social policy. The government has raised this question in the light of the Dutch Presidency of the EU and the long term strategy of the EU to become the most competitive knowledge economy in the world and at the same time strengthen social cohesion.

Conclusions

A promising new method for European social policy is the open method of coordination. With open coordination, the Member States jointly agree on the objectives they will be aiming to achieve in a policy area. Each Member State then develops this into its own national action plan. The Member States then comment on each other's plans and exchange good practices. The European Commission coordinates this process and compares the countries with one another.

According to the RMO, this method could specifically be applied to the following topics:

Deterioration of neighbourhoods in large cities;
Young persons at risk leaving school early;
Integration and immigration;
Hidden poverty among the elderly;
Social infrastructure in the countryside;
The (financial) position of single parents.

Contact info

The Dutch Council for Social Development, RMO
rmo@adviesorgaan-rmo.nl

Publication date

08/07/2004

Links

The Dutch Council for Social Development, RMO

Europe as Social Space (PDF, Eng, 615 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords

Social inclusion & integration, Economy knowledge & employment