Progress of the programme. There is no doubt that the programme content arouses interest at local level. Some projects have achieved national recognition, though it is too early to claim a significant impact at national level in every country. The intention of the programme is to encourage thinking throughout the Community about measures to combat social exclusion. Transnational exchanges between projects, research activities and programme publications are the main constituents of this European train of development.
Research represents another component of the European nature of the programme.
There are two aspects here, statistical work and economic and sociological research. Generally speaking, the programme has stimulated debate on social exclusion in the Member States and at Community level. Several projects have contributed to the creation of exchange networks involving local authorities, non-governmental organisations, employers and workers, while others have provided the authorities with food for thought on the reform of certain social policies.