Social policy and employment make up one of the main pillars of the Lisbon Strategy, along with economic growth and environmental sustainability. Europe is facing a number of challenges from globalisation, demographic change and technological development. The Lisbon target to create more and better jobs is therefore more than a political ambition: it is an economic and social necessity. More people need to be attracted to the labour market and engaged there for a longer period. At the same time, the social protection systems need to be revised to maintain a high level of protection and socially cohesive Europe.
PROGRESS – the European Employment and Social Solidarity Programme 2007-2013 – covers employment measures, social protection and inclusion, working conditions, anti-discrimination and diversity, and equality between men and women. The individual EU Member States have the main responsibility for these areas but the EU plays a key role as a catalyst for change and modernisation in supporting, accompanying and coordinating government efforts to reshape their employment and social policies.
PROGRESS is continuing activities that have proven successful in previous programmes in terms of impact and efficiency. The programme's content and budget have been substantially enlarged compared to the older programmes. The total financial envelope for 2007 to 2013 is EUR 743.29 million, distributed between policy sections as follows:
The main emphasis in the first calls in the PROGRESS Programme is on analytical activities (data/statistics), common indicators, studies and impact assessments. Also important are areas such as mutual learning, awareness and dissemination, and support for the main actors (key EU networks, working groups, training seminars and experts networks). For each component under PROGRESS, actions are supported that relate to priorities outlined below:
Employment: The programme contributes to the achievement of the renewed Lisbon Strategy and to the implementation of the European Employment Strategy. Furthermore, the 2006 Spring European Council underlined the need to further address specific issues, in particular the need to find a balance between flexibility and security through "flexicurity" and to develop a life cycle approach to work. At the same time, there is a continued need to improve the matching of labour market needs by modernising labour market institutions, notably employment services, and by removing obstacles to mobility for workers across Europe.
Social inclusion and social protection: The first work plan supports the implementation of the open method of coordination (OMC) in the field of social protection and inclusion. The primary concern in the social area is to promote good policy making for a high level of social protection and social cohesion, while ensuring good interaction with the revised Lisbon Strategy and bridging the implementation gap identified in the review of the Strategy.
Working conditions: PROGRESS supports the improvement of the working environment and conditions including health and safety at work and reconciling work and family life. In particular, the activities support the development of a positive and pro-active approach to change by promoting adequate information. Particular emphasis is put on the employment and social consequences of economic and market integration and on adapting working conditions and contractual relations to the new economy with a view to fostering a new balance between flexibility and security. Other key priorities are to promote health and safety at work and to ensure that legislation and accompanying measures in this area are adequate in the light of new knowledge or technical progress.
Non-discrimination and diversity: The general objective of this policy section is to fight any discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The activities financed under PROGRESS were coordinated with the projects carried out within the framework of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All 2007.
Gender equality: Against the background of the Roadmap for Equality between Women and Men (2006-2010), the programme contributes to the achievement of equal economic independence for women and men through gender mainstreaming in the employment guidelines and in the OMC in the field of social protection and inclusion. It also enhances the reconciliation of work, private and family life through exchanges of experiences. The programme pursues the elimination of gender stereotypes in society through gender equality awareness raising campaigns and dialogue with the media. Governance at EU level will be improved through the better implementation and control of the application of gender legislation and strengthening gender impact assessment and gender budgeting.
The Presidency Conclusions of the 2006 Spring European Council also underlined the challenge of ensuring that the OMC and the revised Lisbon Process are mutually reinforced. Moreover, the European Council reaffirmed the objective of the revised Lisbon Strategy to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty and social exclusion by 2010.
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