SJ\_Draft1\_220914 SJ\_Draft1\_220914

- • that people with direct experience of poverty, together with the NGOs that • that people with direct experience of poverty, together with the NGOs that support them, are explicitly involved in the dialogue process at EU, national and sub- national level.
- • the involvement of national parliaments through all stages of the Semester, with • the involvement of national parliaments through all stages of the Semester, with the organization of a national debate on the progress on the strategy, including on the poverty target, and in the approval of the NRP.
- • the call for of an inter-institutional agreement regarding the Semester between • the call for of an inter-institutional agreement regarding the Semester between 26 the European Parliament, Council and Commission as called for by the EP.
- • the AGS and Annual Progress Report, make a specific analysis of the state of play on • the AGS and Annual Progress Report, make a specific analysis of the state of play on the extent and quality of democratic and stakeholder engagement, developing common indicators and reporting process, including stakeholder satisfaction surveys.
- • the European Semester Officers into comprehensive promoters for • the European Semester Officers into comprehensive promoters for stakeholder engagement with a specific task to engage all stakeholders, including civil society and people experiencing poverty in the Semester, with a budget to support capacity building, awareness-raising and mobilisation activities around Europe 2020/the Semester and its impact.
- • stakeholders in the bi-lateral meetings between Government and Commission on • stakeholders in the bi-lateral meetings between Government and Commission on planning and review of policies and funding to deliver on the targets.

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- • type of instruments do you think would be more appropriate to use to achieve • type of instruments do you think would be more appropriate to use to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth?

The Europe 2020 strategy operates as a soft method of coordination, focusing on establishing together shared objectives, common indicators, common national reporting and evaluation mechanisms on a yearly cycle. It is crucial however, that ownership is taken at national level. Primary to this would be to ensure that National Reform Programmes - become action plans, consensualized with parliaments and stakeholders and developed together across economic and social strands.

The added value of such instruments is both agenda-setting, andhelping to build consensus about common problems and common solutions. However, without citizen engagement, they became inter-governmental reporting mechanisms with little chance of ownership or accountability. Without Member State agreements, implementation remains a key challenge. Regular and effective monitoring is therefore crucial.

T he limitations of 'soft methods' in areas of strong MS subsidiarity is clear.

EAPN would underline the need for new instruments: 1) New investment plans and 2) Instruments to more explicitly harness EU funds for poverty and 3) Progress towards promoting EU-wide legal instruments to promote core social standards .

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