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National Seminar 8 May 2014Investing in Greek children with support from the EU

Julius op de BekeDG EMPL, Unit D2

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Making the best of EU financial instruments in a challenging context

• Increase in child poverty and social exclusion in a majority of Member States

• Pressure on public finances and services that have a strong impact on children's outcomes

• Recommendation Investing in Children calls on Member States to grasp opportunities offered by EU financial instruments

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Evolution of share of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion (0-17) between 2008 and 2012

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The situation in Greece

• Increase in AROPE

• AROPE above EU average, AROP above EU average, rate of children in severely materially deprived households beyond EU average

• High in work at risk of poverty

• Low impact of family benefits in reducing child poverty, low impact of social transfers in reducing child poverty

• Childcare availability, cost, access (distance/opening hours) and quality are an issue

• Distribution of family benefits unfavourable to the poor

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Child care bottle-necks in Greece

• Greece does not fulfil the Barcelona targets for childcare capacity, both for the 0-3 (just 19% instead of 33%) and the above 3 group

• There is problem of access, due to high cost many parents cannot afford childcare

• There is a problem of quality• 75% of mothers between 25-49 say they are

forced to work part-time, but only 12.5% for family reasons

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Poverty reduction effect of family and child benefits in 2009, children aged 0-17, is very low in Greece, just 10% compared to an EU average of 30%

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POLICY ADVICE INVESTING IN CHILDREN

(1) LOW WORK INTENSITY

• Causes• General economic condition, low wages, financial disincentives

for 2nd earners/single parents ,low activity measures, obstacles to childcare

• Policy Guidance• Make sure work pays (gradual withdrawal of and in work

benefits, tax credits)• Parental leave of about one to two year• Flexible working arrangements (part time)• Tailored ALMP, individual case handlers, public work

programmes

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(2) High rate of AROPE

• Causes• Low amounts of benefits, not redistributive enough, low

take up, not adapted to family types at risk• Policy Guidance• Child benefits, housing allowance, minimum income• Target disadvantaged families (lone parents, migrants)• Means tested benefits but beware of inactivity traps and

administrative cost

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(3) Affordability and access to ECEC

• Causes• High cost, insufficient capacity and opening hours, distance,

short length of parental leave, lack of qualified staff• Policy guidance• Reduce cost for low income families, raise capacity• Focus efforts on under 3, raise awareness for benefits of

ECEC, early investment comes with highest returns• Promote quality services (child-staff ratio, qualified staff,

monitoring and evaluation• Develop joint services (social, health, parent support)

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New opportunities structural and investment funds in 2014-2020

Clearer link with the Europe 2020 strategy and Country Specific Recommendations

Earmarking of 20% ESF for social inclusion

Ex ante conditionalities: Roma inclusion, active inclusion, early school leaving

Stronger focus on early school leaving, on action in early childhood

Emphasis on partnership with NGO stakeholders (Code of Conduct, January 2014)

Various investment priorities are relevant (ESF and ERDF regulations, December 2013)

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1. Thematic Objectives

2. What are the most relevant investment priorities?

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Employment (thematic objective 8)

ESF- Access to employment for job-seekers and inactive people- Integration into the labour market of young people- Equality between men and women

ERDF- Local development and neighbourhood services (ERDF)

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Social inclusion (thematic objective 9)

ESF- Active inclusion- Socio-economic integration of marginalised communities - Access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services - Combating discrimination and promoting equal opportunities- Community led local development strategies

ERDF- Health and social infrastructure - Regeneration of deprived communities - Community led development strategies

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Education objective (thematic objective 10)

ESF- Preventing early school-leaving- Access to good quality early-childhood, primary and secondary education

ERDF- Investing in education infrastructures (ERDF)

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1. Examples of what can be supported concretely?

2. See also

3. www.europa.eu/epic

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Supporting parents' accessto the labour market

Target extra support especially for lone parents, second earners and after parental leave

Tailored made active labour market policies

Individual support: individual contracts, quality case handlers, lifelong learning

Subsidised employment, social economy

Flexible working arrangements

Improve access to ECEC/childcare

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Young Mums will achieve (UK, supported by the ESF)

• Support programme for pregnant teenage (14-19) mums. It offers guidance and help with essentials like childcare and transport, in order to boost self-esteem, develop Maths and English skills and ultimately encourage young mums to progress onto further education or employment.

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Early childhood education and care: Improving both access and quality

Widening access• Increase supply especially in remote areas• Address obstacles in access for disadvantaged children (targeted

measures, removing financial barriers, free meals, mediators..)Improving quality•Staff professionalisation•Development of age-appropriate curriculum or pedagogical framework•Establishment of legal framework, of quality assurance mechanisms•Develop joint services combining ECEC, health, social and parenting support•Supporting new approaches through social innovation

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• Micro crèche "Les Castors" (Loire Atlantique, FR, supported by the ESF)

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Empowering children through quality services

Integrated intervention in early childhood- Services combining childcare, education, health prevention and parenting support

Providing a healthy living environment- Social housing, debt management services for families- Public playgrounds, cultural and play activities

A more preventive approach to child protection- Prevention of abandonment- Parenting support programmes (home visits)- Quality alternative care settings for children removed from their families (small size, foster parents, staff training…)

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• Mentor programme (Galicia, ES, supported by the ESF)

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1. Beyond the SiFs: a range of relevant programmes

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European Fund for Aid to the Most Deprived

€ 3,8 billion (2014-2020) for non-financial emergency assistance through partner organisations, €250 milion for Greece

Initial Commission proposal highlighted children as target group: but this is now left up to Member States

Possibility to provide shelter, clothing, food, books, health awareness raising activities, and social inclusion activities adapted to children's needs

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School Schemes for Fruit, Vegetables and Milk

Encourages healthy eating habits: 20.3 million children benefited under previous scheme (2011/12)

New proposal published in January 2014 (under discussion)

€80 million for the milk and €150m for the fruit and vegetables

(programme managed by DG AGRI)

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Other programmes relevant for reigional/local authorities

Erasmus for All Programme (DG EAC)•promoting children's access to education, informal learning and sport

Improving policies

•Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSi)

•Horizon 2020 (research) (DG RTD)

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To conclude…

Continuity with 2014-2020 and new opportunities

Importance of integrated interventions, bringing together various funds

Role of Social Innovation under ESF: developing new approaches

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Thank you for your attention