Through the EU Social Protection and Social Inclusion Process, the European Union coordinates and encourages Member State actions to combat poverty and social exclusion, and to reform their social protection systems on the basis of policy exchanges and mutual learning. As such, it underpins the achievement of the Union’s strategic goal of sustained economic growth, more and better jobs, and greater social cohesion by 2010.
One of the aims of the Social Protection Social Inclusion Process is to develop a mutual learning process involving the scrutiny of specific policies, programmes or institutional arrangements presented as good practice in the various National Action Plans on Social Inclusion.
Peer Reviews seminars encourage the dissemination of good practice across Member States by assessing the effectiveness of key policies or institutions.
In each seminar, the experience of the host country in a particular area is confronted with the comments and critical analysis of peer countries. It can serve as a useful tool to Member States to help them in the design and implementation of more effective policies. It should also contribute to the dialogue with stakeholders such as social partners and NGOs and where appropriate, people experiencing poverty and social exclusion.
A country seeking to reduce child poverty, for example, can learn valuable lessons from its peers on what has worked and what has not. This can save time, and costly experimenting in crafting effective national policies. The recommendations resulting from such a review are also meant to help governments win support at home in their policy making.
More reports and documents related to peer review seminars are also available on the Peer Review website.
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