In 2007, the French authorities established a scoreboard to assess progress towards the national target of reducing poverty by one third by 2012.

Host Country : France

Place and date : Paris, 3. - 4.12.2009

Peer countries : Belgium - Bulgaria - Ireland - Latvia - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Malta - Netherlands - Portugal - Romania

Stakeholders : EAPN, Eurochild

While the central indicator in the scoreboard is the risk of poverty rate anchored at a moment in time (2006), a number of other indicators (18 main ones and 21 complementary) have been defined so as to cover all aspects of the fight against deprivation and social exclusion (from income, employment, housing and health, to financial exclusion, child poverty and education).

The combination of indicators - most of which can be monitored using official national sources - is intended to provide a clearer picture not only of the extent of access to basic services but also of the rate and intensity of poverty and of living conditions. It should also ensure that the pursuit of poverty-reducing goals do not impact negatively on social cohesion.

Partnerships with local communities have been set up to ensure indicators are also monitored at local level.

Although the scoreboard is still being refined, it should contribute to the evaluation of policies for combating poverty and social exclusion. With 2010 planned as the European Year for combating poverty, the Peer Review offers an opportunity to exchange good practices on monitoring active inclusion strategies.

Peer Review manager

Ms Monika Natter (ÖSB Consulting GmbH)