Full text of the study (pdf - 680 kb)

Social protection and social inclusion in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

The purpose of this study is to inform the forthcoming negotiations for the accession of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the EU in the area of social protection and social inclusion, and in particular contribute to the 'Joint Inclusion Memorandum. It provides an analysis of the current system of social protection in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, with particular emphasis on the problems of social exclusion.
Throughout, the study has addressed main institutional and legislative structures of the social protection system, as well as current reforms and challenges. A particular emphasis within the analysis was also given to the cross-cutting issues, such as gender, ethnic communities and vulnerable communities

Summary	MK AL
Full text

Poverty and Exclusion

European Union citizen generally think that poverty is a widespread problem that affects the majority of people to some extent. On average, they feel that in the area where they live one person in ten lives in situations of extreme poverty. In the new Member States, twice as many people feel that people in their area live in situations of poverty compared with the former EU15 countries (63% vs. 32%).
Long-term unemployment is the most frequently mentioned as cause of poverty (35%), followed by current work not paying enough (34%) and social benefits or pensions not being high enough (33%). Loosing one’s job is also seen as the most important reason why people become homeless.
This results from a Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Commission to better understand the views of European citizens regarding the existence and causes of poverty and homelessness. The survey also studies what is regarded as necessary in order to have a decent standard of living with regards to financial means, and other non-monetary aspects of social exclusion: housing needs, ownership of durable goods, basic necessities and social integration and pays particular attention to people’s views concerning the requirements and the needs of children to live and develop well.

Special Eurobarometer 279 - Poverty and exclusion - September 2007

Poverty and social exclusion among lone-parent households

The study focuses on lone-parent households, analysing the reasons why they experience higher poverty risks and the barriers they have to face in order to access employment and other means of social inclusion. Since a vast majority of two-parent households are male-headed and one-parent families are mostly headed by women, the study provides information on the gender pattern of poverty. The study also examines policy measures that have been implemented in several Member States recently to address the problem, especially by trying to take lone parents off welfare dependency and offer them job opportunities.

Final Report Executive summary

Measurement of homelessness at EU level

Homelessness and housing deprivation exist in all European countries and yet there are few official statistics on homelessness, and those that do exist are rarely comparable between different countries. The lack of clear data on the extent of homelessness makes an understanding of its nature, causes and the effective action needed to tackle it all the more difficult.

This study aims at identifying methodologies and practices for the development of the information basis required for the measurement of housing deprivation and homelessness. It contributes to the debate on homelessness in relation to:

• definitions of homelessness and living situations
• the governance of data collection on homelessness
• strategies for data collection
• the search for indicators on homelessness and housing exclusion

Measurement of homelessness at EU level  Full Text of the study (pdf - 3,36 MB)

Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Suburbs of Large Turkish Cities

The study analyses the present situation of people living in the 'gecekondu' of large Turkish cities in the light of the objectives of the European Social Inclusion Strategy, in particular as regards access to resources, rights, goods and services and provisions for helping the most vulnerable.

Final Report

Social Protection and Social Inclusion in Croatia

The purpose of the study is to inform the forthcoming process of negotiations for the accession of Croatia to the EU in the area of social protection and social inclusion, and in particular contribute to the 'Joint Inclusion Memorandum' (JIM). It should provide up-to-date and relevant analysis and information on the structure of the Croatian social protection system, the extent and pattern of poverty and social exclusion and the envisaged plans for reforms of pension and healthcare systems.

Final Report (pdf - 983 KB)

Policy measures to promote access to information technologies

The aim of the study is to document both the risks and potentials of the rapid growth of the knowledge society and information and communication technologies (ICT). Through comparing approaches across a number of Member States and candidate countries it will identify the key elements necessary to develop a strategic approach to ensuring that the new risks of exclusion resulting from developments in ICT are avoided and the potential for ICT to increase social inclusion are maximised. It will also identify ways in which the development of ICT can be more closely linked with and reinforce the Union's social inclusion process.

Final Report (pdf - 1,36 MB) Summary

Policy measures concerning disadvantaged youth

The aim of the study is to analyse the policy measures concerning the specific situation of disadvantaged youth in the age group 16-25, and the study will particularly analyse access to employment. Young people between 16-25 have a higher than average at-risk-of-poverty rate (21% compared to 15% for all age groups) and this is often connected to difficulties in making the transition from school to work and in accessing employment. This policy study will examine successful policy approaches to including those at risk across a number of Member States and candidate countries. It will aim to identify the key mix of elements that are necessary to reduce the level of poverty and unemployment amongst this age group.

Final Report (pdf - 1,28 MB) Annex (pdf - 2,77 MB) Summary

Policy measures to ensure access to decent housing for immigrants

The aim of the study is to analyse and identify the most effective policy measures to ensure access to decent housing for immigrants. The study will stress the specific features and similarities of approaches adopted with regard to this group compared with the more general situation of persons suffering poverty and social exclusion as well as any discrimination suffered in terms of access to housing. The study will also consider trends that can be identified concerning the situation of persons born to first-generation immigrants compared with that of immigrants who have lived in a country for longer.

Policy measures to ensure access to decent housing for immigrants (pdf - 817 KB) Summary

Regional Indicators to reflect social exclusion and poverty

The aim of the study is to identify the appropriate methodologies and strategies for the development of indicators of social exclusion and poverty at regional level.

Given the likely limited scope for defining monetary poverty indicators at the regional level, attention should probably focus on the non-monetary dimension of social exclusion,e.g. relating to access to essential health services, education, transport, etc. and living and housing conditions, including social participation.

Regional Indicators to reflect social exclusion and poverty (pdf - 9 MB)
Summary

A thematic study using transnational comparisons to analyse and identify cultural policies and programmes that contribute to preventing and reducing poverty and social exclusion

The aim of this study is to assist the development of more coherent and integrated policies in relation to access to culture as part of the further development of Member States' NAPs/incl. This study will draw on existing research and data and will compare and contrast policy approaches and outcomes in a representative sample of at least six different Member States in the area of access to culture as well as taking account of international studies and experience in this area and the views of those experiencing poverty and social exclusion.

Study on cultural policies and programmes (pdf - 1 MB)
Summary

Policy Measures to promote the use of Microcredit

The aim of the study is to identify and analyse the most effective policy measures taken by EU Member States and Candidate Countries in the area of access to microcredit and related combinations of services (training, advices, peer support, networking, saving facilities…) for self-employment projects or microenterprises developments to people facing poverty or social exclusion.

Microcredit study part 1-3 (pdf - 434 KB)
Microcredit study part 4 and Annexes (pdf - 908 KB)
Summary

A thematic study using transnational comparisons to analyse and identify what combination of policy responses are most successful in preventing and reducing high levels of child poverty

The aim of the study is to assist in the development of more coherent and integrated policies to combat child poverty and exclusion in Member States in the context of the further development of NAPs/incl. It will do this by producing a report which will examine policies and programmes in 6 different Member States while also taking into account international data. It will aim to identify what combination of policies appear to be most successful in reducing and preventing high levels of poverty and social exclusion amongst children.

Child Poverty Study (pdf - 926 KB)
Summary

The situation of Roma in an Enlarged European Union

The study examines the conditions Roma, Gypsies and Travellers face in a range of fields, including education, employment, housing and healthcare. It sets out both good and bad practice in policies and programmes for Roma, as well as recommendations on how to improve existing policies in order to tackle the widespread discrimination and social exclusion which Roma, Gypsies and Travellers face. It will serve as a basis for discussion by the European Commission, Member States and their partners on how EU measures should best target Roma inclusion. The study has been carried out jointly with the EU anti-discrimination programme.

The situation of Roma in an Enlarged European Union (pdf - 2,4 MB)

Studies under way

Impact assessment of EU basic requirements on measures to promote the integration of persons excluded from the labour market

This study will assess the impact of possible community action aimed at setting up common minimum rules and guiding principles at EU level concerning minimum income support schemes, active labour market policies and conditions of access to basic services which could facilitate the active inclusion of those excluded from the labour market.

Study on the links between the social and environmental pillars of sustainable development in particular the link between social cohesion/inclusion and environmental policies

This study will improve our understanding of the interdependencies between social cohesion/inclusion and environmental sustainability and to contribute to the development of better and mutually reinforcing policies for both areas.

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