Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Opportunities, access and solidarity: towards a new social vision for 21st century Europe
Date: 2007-11-20
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: citizens' Europe, economic and social cohesion, economic situation, equal treatment, social situation, socioeconomic conditions, the EU's international role

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 20.11.2007 
COM(2007) 726 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Opportunities, access and solidarity:  
towards a new social vision for 21st century Europe 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3 

Changing social realities .............................................................................................. 4 

A "life chances" social vision for Europe: advancing well-being through 
opportunities, access and solidarity.............................................................................. 6 

Key areas for action ..................................................................................................... 7 

The role of the EU........................................................................................................ 9 

Next steps ................................................................................................................... 11

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1. 

INTRODUCTION 

How  can  the  well-being,  quality  of  life  and  common  values  of  Europe's  citizens  be  best 
advanced  in  today's  world?  This  question  is  central  to  the  Commission's  Citizen's  Agenda1 
and is at the heart of Europe's key instruments such as the single market, the Lisbon Strategy 
for Growth and Jobs and the Sustainable Development Strategy. All of these policies need to 
be built on a solid understanding of Europe's social realities and to keep pace with them.  

What are those realities? 

•  European  societies  are  changing  fast:  Europeans  are  living  longer  lives,  facing 
unprecedented  changes  in  family  patterns,  making  progress  towards  gender  equality  and 
adjusting to new patterns of mobility and diversity. 

•  Globalisation,  technological  progress  and  economic  developments  are  affecting  the  way 
we live and work, with new work opportunities, a demand for new skills and an increasing 
pace of change. The associated benefits and risks are not evenly shared and some parts of 
the population have difficulty adapting and run the risk of unemployment and exclusion. 

•  The  EU  itself  has  changed:  it  has  grown  to  encompass  500  million  citizens  and  is  more 
diverse; the accession of new Member States has extended the benefits of peace, freedom 
and prosperity across the EU and to neighbouring countries. 

These developments offer unprecedented opportunities in terms of free choice, healthier and 
longer  lives,  better  living  conditions  and  more  innovative  and  open  societies.  But  they  also 
create  new  social  risks  that  may  reduce  life  chances  and  fuel  a  perception  of  insecurity, 
isolation, inequity and inequality. And there are widespread expectations that Europe should 
play  a  more  prominent  role  in  advancing  the  well-being  of  its  citizens  in  this  context  of 
globalisation,  helping  them  anticipate  and  foster  change,  as  well  as  promoting  European 
values on the global scene. 

To be able to better respond to these concerns and expectations, the Commission has launched 
a  broad  based  consultation  on  the  social  changes  under  way  in  the  EU.  Building  on  a 
discussion  paper  from  its  Bureau  of  European  Policy  Advisers  (BEPA)  and  the  results  of  a 
Eurobarometer  poll2,  the  Commission  has  stimulated  a  debate  among  stakeholders,  the 
Member  States  and  the  other  EU  institutions3  and  launched  an  internet  consultation  to  seek 
views  on  what  constitutes  Europe's  social  reality.  The  purpose  of  this  Communication  is  to 
enrich the on-going consultation on Europe's social reality by broadening the discussion from 
analysis  to  response.  Reactions  to  this  vision  will  feed  into  the  preparation  of  a  renewed 
Social Agenda, which the Commission will present in mid-2008. 

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COM(2006) 211, 10.5.2006. 
See documents at : http://ec.europa.eu/citizens_agenda/social_reality_stocktaking/more index_en.htm 
See  for  instance  the  report  of  the  European  Parliament  of  17  November  2007  (A6-400/07)  and  the 
opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 18 January 2007 (2007/C 93/11), as well 
as the activities of the Dublin, Paris and Budapest representations of the European Commission. 

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2. 

CHANGING SOCIAL REALITIES 

By global standards, European societies are affluent and when polled, Europeans say they are 
happy  and  satisfied  with  their  lives.  Yet,  when  asked  about  the  future,  they  express  anxiety 
and concern, in particular for the coming generation.  

Why? Naturally, perceptions differ widely between individuals and from one country or one 
region to another. However, one factor is common: all Member States are undergoing rapid 
and profound changes4. 

•  In society 

–  Life expectancy in European societies has dramatically improved: from 43.5 years in 1900 
to  75.5  in  2000  and  an  expected  82  in  2050  for  men,  and  from  46.0  to  81.4  with  an 
expected  87.4  for  women.  Thanks  to  sixty  years  of  peace,  medical  progress  and  better 
living and working conditions, a growing proportion of Europeans are now enjoying longer 
and  more  active  retirement.  This  has  far-reaching  impacts  on  welfare  systems,  with  the 
associated expenditure expected to rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2030 and 4.3% by 2050. At the 
same  time,  access  to  health  services  and  healthy  life  expectancy  still  vary  considerably 
between income groups and regions. 

–  Birth rates are in decline but evidence suggests that the desire for children often remains 
unfulfilled. This relates to a complex combination of factors, including uneven sharing of 
parenting  responsibilities,  sub-optimal  childcare  facilities,  the  housing  situation  and 
family-unfriendly work organisation.  

–  Social risks such as old-age dependency and social isolation are expected to rise as a result 
of these demographic trends. Today,  28% of the population  over 70 currently  live alone. 
Up to two-thirds of people over 75 are dependent on informal care, mostly provided by the 
immediate family, especially women. One in six older people live in poverty, with elderly 
women particularly exposed to low pensions as a result of incomplete careers. 

–  New risks of a generation divide are emerging between younger and older generations in 
terms of pay, job security and access to housing, as well as in terms of sharing the financial 
implications  of  ageing.  The  gap  between  the  aspirations  of  the  young  generation  and  the 
threat of limited opportunities risks creating a "generation fracture". 

–  Changing  family  patterns  including  marital  break  ups,  single  parenthood  and  the 
weakening  bonds  of  the  extended  family  raise  new  issues  of  work/life  balance  and  care 
responsibilities. Single parent households face higher risk of unemployment. 

–  Progress towards gender equality is taking place but remains far from a reality across the 
27  Member  States.  Women  are  still  under-represented  in  the  labour  market,  in  economic 
and  political  decision-making  positions  and  the  gender  pay  gap  is  still  15%  on  average. 
Gender stereotypes persist. 

–  Differences in income and opportunities are widespread across regions, between rural and 
urban areas, as well as between Member States. Over 100 million people live on an income 

4 

The  document  prepared  by  the  BEPA  provides  a  detailed  overview  of  on-going  societal  trends. 
Additional facts and figures can be found in the Commission's 2007 Social Situation report.  

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equivalent to a maximum of 22 euros a day. The incidence of child poverty remains high 
and is rising in several Member States. These children face much higher risks of exclusion 
and poverty later in life. 

–  Migration  is  testing  the  effectiveness  of  Member  States'  integration  strategies,  notably  in 

major European cities and border regions. 

•  In the economy 

–  Although  employment  rates  are  increasing  and  Europe  created  3.5  million  new  jobs  in 

2006, unemployment remains high in many parts of Europe. 

–  Demographic developments increase the risk of skills' and jobs' bottlenecks. The average 
exit age from the labour market is on the increase but, among 55-64 year old, 47% of men 
and 65% of women have dropped out of the labour market. 

–  Working  life  is  being  radically  transformed  by  the  combined  effect  of  technological 
progress,  changing  economic  demands  and  the  growth  of  the  services'  sector.  The 
workforce  has  to  cope  with  an  increased  pace  of  change,  be  it  for  acquiring  new  skills, 
adjusting  to  new  business  models  or  adapting  to  shifting  consumer  preferences.  At  the 
same time, there are opportunities for more flexible forms of working, thanks to the use of 
IT technologies and the growing importance of flexi-time and tele-work. 

–  Working patterns and working conditions are becoming more diverse and irregular, ending 
the prospect of a "job-for-life" career pattern, with new forms of contracts, a spread of part-
time, greater geographical mobility and more changes throughout a life time in both jobs 
and working status. This increases the risk of labour market polarisation, with evidence of 
rising  wage  inequalities  and  people  with  low  skills  trapped  in  low  quality  jobs  with  few 
prospects of advancement. 

–  In  a  knowledge  society,  human  capital,  education  and  skills  are  even  more  essential  to 
foster  job  creation  and  reinforce  social  inclusion.  But  one  fifth  of  school  children  do  not 
reach  the  basic  standards  of  literacy  and  numeracy  and  six  million  young  people  leave 
school without any qualifications. This raises questions about the quality and effectiveness 
of  Europe's  education  and  training  systems.  Youth,  and  these  early  school  leavers  in 
particular,  find  it  difficult  to  get  access  to  the  labour  market,  with  fewer  unskilled  jobs 
available and very uneven access to lifelong learning. 

•  In lifestyles and values 

–  Traditional bonds such as family, social group and religion are weakening. There is a trend 
to individualisation of values and an atomisation of culture - a focus on the individual and 
the consumer rather than on society as a whole, and new issues of tolerance and respect for 
others.  At  the  same  time,  new  forms  of  solidarity  are  emerging,  including  through  new 
leisure and cultural activities. 

–  The  importance  attached  to  traditional  forms  of  political  participation  is  decreasing  and 
trust in public institutions is often low. Yet, there is a quest for new, more flexible forms of 
civic participation and a desire to shape the future. 

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–  Globalisation  has  increased  the  exposure  to  diversity,  stimulating  curiosity  and  enriching 
societies. But it has prompted anxieties about cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, 
as well as about Europe's capacity to assert its common values. 

–  New  social  problems  are  emerging  such  as  stress  and  depression,  obesity,  environment-
related diseases and lack of exercise. These add to traditional problems of social isolation, 
mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, criminality and insecurity. 

–  The IT revolution and new communication tools have spawned new forms of dialogue and 
civic  participation.  But,  there  is  a  risk  that  new  "communication  gaps"  emerge  between 
various communities and generations who are not or are no longer connected. There is also 
evidence  of  a  "digital  gap"  with  low-educated,  older  and  economically  inactive  citizens 
having difficulty making use of new technologies. 

–  The production and consumption patterns that underlie the affluence enjoyed in many parts 
of  Europe  have  implications,  including  on  climate  change  and  increased  pressures  on 
natural  resources.  Reversing  these  negative  impacts  of  current  lifestyles  will  mean 
adjusting behaviour and will have significant social impacts. 

–  Technological progress has given rise to ethical questions, e.g. on medical treatment, gene 

therapy, stem cells, etc. 

Existing  welfare  states  are  not  always  well  attuned  to  adapt  to  these  new  and  largely 
unprecedented challenges, in spite of many on-going reforms.  

3. 

A  "LIFE  CHANCES"  SOCIAL  VISION  FOR  EUROPE:  ADVANCING  WELL-BEING 
THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES, ACCESS AND SOLIDARITY 

Across the EU, a new social vision is emerging of how best to advance well-being in the face 
of today's challenges. This new approach has opportunities, access and solidarity at its core: 

–  Opportunities - to start well in life, realise one's own potential and make the most of the 

chances offered by an innovative, open and modern Europe. 

–  Access  -  new  and  more  effective  ways  to  get  an  education,  progress  in  the  job  market, 

obtain quality healthcare and social protection and participate in culture and society. 

–  Solidarity  -  to  foster  social  cohesion  and  social  sustainability,  and  make  sure  that  no 

individual is left behind. 

This vision reflects an increasingly accepted view that whereas society cannot guarantee equal 
outcomes for its citizens, it must become much more resolute in fostering equal opportunities. 

There is no "one-size-fits-all" approach across Europe, but there are common challenges and 
there is a common need to act. The central ambition is to achieve a wider distribution of "life 
chances",  to  allow  everyone  in  the  EU  to  have  access  to  the  resources,  services,  conditions 
and capabilities in order to turn the theoretical equality of opportunities and active citizenship 
into a meaningful reality. 

This is a matter of social justice and social cohesion. A gap between "winners" and "losers" of 
economic and technological change may result in new patterns of inequality, with persisting 

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risk  of  poverty  coinciding  with  new  forms  of  exclusion.  In  a  modern  and  cohesive  society, 
everyone  should  be  able  to  contribute  fully  to  society  and  have  access  to  new  "ladders  of 
opportunity" at different stages of the lifetime. 

This  is  an  economic  imperative.  A  well-functioning,  confident  and  buoyant  society  which 
invests in its human capital and creates opportunities for individuals to move on throughout 
their  life  cycle  is  essential  to  sustain  economic  growth,  labour  market  participation,  living 
standards  and  combat  social  exclusion.  This  is  also  a  sound  financial  investment:  tackling 
social problems at their source reduces the risk that the welfare system will have to pick up 
the bill for social dysfunctions and lack of economic opportunities at a later stage. 

This  is  a  political  requirement.  Building  confidence  and  trust  is  essential  for  progress, 
modernisation and openness to change. 

4. 

KEY AREAS FOR ACTION 

This  agenda  of  opportunities,  access  and  solidarity  requires  investment  -  a  renewed 
commitment to tap Europe's full human potential and to broaden life chances for all: 

•  Investing  in  youth:  New  social  changes  impact  heavily  on  youth.  Evidence  shows  that 
individual  life  chances  are  often  set  by  the  time  a  child  reaches  school,  with  family 
background  and  neighbourhood  environment  playing  a  key  role.  Essential  cognitive, 
numeracy and literacy skills are acquired in early childhood. "Learning to learn", aspiring 
to higher education, attitudes toward civic participation and the choice of healthy diets and 
lifestyles  are  shaped  when  young.  Innovative  approaches  are  needed  to  enhance  youth 
well-being  and  strengthen  the  young's  ability  to  make  a  strong  start  in  life.  Particular 
efforts  are  needed  to  boost  childcare  and  educational  facilities  for  young  children,  adapt 
school curricula, reduce early school-leaving, and to ease the difficulties young people face 
in accessing the job market, housing and financing. Investment in childhood and youth is 
increasingly  recognised as  essential  to  boost  life  chances.  It  is  a  lifetime  investment  -  an 
investment in the future. 

•  Investing in fulfilling careers: In today's and tomorrow's working life, everyone will face 
a  range  of  transitions,  from  school  to  work,  between  jobs  and  working  statuses,  between 
job search and training, between career breaks and care periods, between working life and 
retirement.  There  is  a  risk  of  polarisation  between  those  who  can  manage  and  those, 
notably the low-skilled, who cannot. In a life cycle approach, labour markets must be made 
more  flexible  and  provide  the  necessary  incentives  and  safeguards  to  allow  workers  and 
businesses  to  succeed  in  managing  change  and  benefit  from  more  diversified  working 
lives. Security and flexibility can be mutually reinforcing and should build on one another 
("flexicurity") to reinforce people's capacity to enter the world of work, progress and stay 
longer in it, by ensuring smooth transitions and pathways throughout their career. A radical 
policy  and  culture  shift  is  taking  place,  away  from  a  "job-for-life"  ending  with  early 
retirement, towards ''employment for life'', active ageing strategies with strengthened and 
more  accessible  lifelong  learning,  flexible  working  arrangements,  safe  and  innovative 
working conditions, and modern and effective social protection mechanisms at their core. 
This  is  the  way  to  attract  and  retain  more  people  in  work,  so  that  they  can  fulfil  their 
aspirations, as well as work more productively. 

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•  Investing  in  longer  and  healthier  lives:  The  implications  of  an  ageing  society  are 
becoming obvious, with new health and social risks having far-reaching impacts on social 
protection  systems.  But  demographic  change  also  opens  up  new  opportunities  for  the 
spread  of  innovative  services,  goods  and  technologies,  for  instance  for  elderly  care,  with 
substantial  potential  for  growth  and  jobs.  From  a  life  cycle  perspective,  the  social  and 
financial  implications  of  ageing  require  a  substantial  rethink  of  intergenerational 
responsibilities  and  the  way  the  associated  costs  are  shared  between  generations.  Europe 
should make full use of the current window of opportunity offered by the good economic 
situation to introduce sustainable reforms. 

•  Investing in gender equality: Too many obstacles still hinder the participation of women 
in work and society, with the additional risk that new ageing-related care responsibilities 
may fall disproportionately on them. It is essential for Europe to continue its shift from the 
"male breadwinner"  model of social  and tax policy to one of support to individual rights 
and  the  "dual  earner"  family,  where  both  partners  engage  in  paid  employment  and  can 
reconcile  professional,  private  and  family  aspects  of  their  lives.  Addressing  pay  gaps, 
reviewing  the  tax  systems  to  improve  work  incentives,  developing  affordable  and 
accessible childcare and eldercare, the spread of family-friendly practices in the workplace 
with  more  flexible  leave  arrangements  over  the  lifetime  are  essential  priorities  in  this 
respect.  Such  measures  will  also  facilitate  the  retention  of  more  people  in  the  workforce 
and reduce risks of poverty. 

•  Investing  in  active  inclusion  and  non-discrimination:  Life  chances  are  not  equally 
distributed in today's societies. Effective and equal access to employment, lifelong learning 
social  and  healthcare  services  varies  markedly  across  the  EU,  with  a  significant  share  of 
the EU population experiencing poverty and social exclusion and facing severe difficulties 
in achieving a decent living and finding a job. Each situation is different: the response will 
require a tailored set of measures which combine income support at a level sufficient for 
people to have a dignified life with a link to the labour market, through job opportunities or 
vocational training and through better access to enabling social services. Moreover, some 
44.6  million  people  aged  between  16  and  64  -  16%  of  the  EU  working-age  population  - 
consider themselves to have a longstanding health problem or disability. Many of them are 
willing and able to take up work provided appropriate conditions are met. Discrimination 
on the basis of disability, age, religion, race, ethnic origin or sexual orientation is banned 
but  still  hinders  the  life  chances  of  many.  With  population  ageing  and  the  possibility  for 
almost  five  generations  to  co-exist,  the  individualisation  of  preferences  and  more  varied 
flows  of  migration,  our  societies  are  becoming  more  open,  diverse  and  complex. 
Acceptance  of  diversity,  active  inclusion  of  the  most  disadvantaged,  the  promotion  of 
equality and the eradication of non-discrimination are essential priorities for Europeans to 
achieve personal freedom and empowerment. 

•  Investing  in  mobility  and  successful  integration:  Europeans  will  become  more  mobile  - 
European youth today is more mobile than in previous generations and mobility within the 
EU is a fundamental right for citizens to exercise, with intra-EU mobility being a welcome 
feature of a more integrated economy. In addition, sustained immigration flows are seen as 
necessary  for  Europe  to  meet  the  challenges  of  an  ageing  and  shrinking  working-age 
population.  These  flows  will  probably  be  more  varied  than  traditional  immigration 
patterns, with an increasing number of people leaving and then returning to their country of 
origin.  All  of  this  means  that  European  societies  will  become  more  open,  diverse  and 
complex.  New  forward-looking  approaches  are  needed  to  promote  better  integration  of 

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migrants,  encouraging  mutual  respect  in  a  two-way  process  of  exercising  rights  and 
meeting obligations. 

•  Investing  in  civic  participation,  culture  and  dialogue:  Active  participation  in  collective 
activities  such  as  culture,  sport,  civic  and  political  activism  contributes  to  the  coherence 
and  solidarity  of  Europe's  communities  and  can  thus  help  fight  risks  of  atomisation  and 
isolation.  Voluntary  work  and  civic  engagement  also  play  a  prominent  role  in 
strengthening  social  cohesion.  In  today's  Europe,  cultural  exchanges  are  as  lively  and 
vibrant  as  ever.  Increased  leisure  time  has  created  an  unprecedented  demand  for  new 
cultural goods. Europe's cultural diversity is a source of human enrichment and inspiration 
world-wide. It is also an economic asset, with innovation and creativity being an important 
trigger of economic activities and jobs in a knowledge-based world. 

These  "investments"  are  in  the  human  and  social  capital  of  our  societies.  They  demand  an 
effort on the part of individuals, families, local communities, social and business institutions, 
NGOs and the various levels of government. In some instances, this may mean a re-direction 
or a new sharing of social spending. It is not simply spending to subsidise the consequences of 
societal failure. It is social investment that needs to be justified according to the best available 
estimates  of  social  and  economic  return  from  a  sustainable  development  perspective.  For 
example, investing in the early years, education  and  training  or  preventive health care yield 
very high returns and offer substantial pay-offs later in life or one generation down the road, 
not  only  in  terms  of  higher  employment  and  productivity,  but  also  in  terms  of  reducing  the 
enormous  costs  that  social  breakdown  would  impose  on  our  societies.  This  is  the  way  to 
reconcile equity and efficiency. 

5. 

THE ROLE OF THE EU 

Member  States  have  the  main  responsibility  for  the  policy  changes  that  are  necessary  to 
translate this vision into reality. EU action will remain conditional upon proven added value, 
in  line  with  subsidiarity  and  proportionality  requirements.  This  is  what  citizens  expect  and 
this is what is usually most efficient. But this does not preclude a more pro-active role at EU 
level to catalyse change and to steer, support and accompany necessary reforms. 

This  role  is  anchored  on  a  solid  foundation:  the  Community  "acquis"  and  the  set  of  shared 
rights and values, which are clearly expressed in Article 2 of the Reform Treaty, as well as in 
the Charter of Fundamental Rights: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, 
the  rule  of  law  and  respect  for  human  rights,  including  the  rights  of  persons  belonging  to 
minorities. These values are common to all the Member States - European societies in which 
pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and 
men prevail. 

The strength of the EU is not only that it is a community of values, but also a community of 
action,  in  which  Member  States  join  forces  and  achieve  results  collectively.  The  Reform 
Treaty  contains  a  horizontal  social  clause  giving  prominence  to  the  EU  commitment  to 
employment  and  social  protection  and  confirming  the  role  of  the  regions  and  the  social 
partners  as  part  of  the  political,  economic  and  social  fabric  of  the  Union.  Meeting  the  new 
challenges  set  out  above  require  that  this  collective  energy  be  directed  toward  innovative 
economic and social policy solutions. Most of them will be found at the local, regional and 
national level. But the EU can help in at least five respects: 

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•  Setting policy frameworks for action: In many social policy areas, diversity in policies and 
practices and heterogeneity of national institutions between Member States argues against 
harmonisation.  Yet,  there  is  a  strong  need  and  a  shared  willingness  to  work  towards 
common  goals.  This  is  why  in  a  number  of  policy  domains  such  as  employment,  social 
inclusion,  social  protection,  education,  youth,  culture,  health  and  the  integration  of 
immigrants, the EU has established common objectives with specific timetables, reporting 
mechanisms and indicators as a means of monitoring progress and comparing best practice. 
The experience of the European Employment Strategy launched ten years ago - and now an 
essential  pillar  of  the  Lisbon  Strategy  -  shows  that  such  mechanisms  can  make  a 
difference,  by  shedding  new  light  on  priorities  which  were  not  prominent  at  EU  level 
earlier on - such as "flexicurity", quality and productivity of work, childcare, immigration, 
undeclared  work  and  minority  issues  -  as  well  as  on  innovative  ways  to  address  them. 
These processes have now been operating for several years. They have been successful in 
allowing the Member States and the Commission to define common goals; but less so in 
stimulating  the  necessary  degree  of  ambition  and  policy  efforts  to  reach  these  common 
goals. As is being done for the review of the Lisbon Strategy, the EU should consider how 
to  make  these  voluntary  processes  more  dynamic  and  more  focused  on  implementation 
while at the same time taking into account the diversity of institutions and traditions. The 
approach  of  ''common  principles''  used  in  the  case  of  flexicurity  could  be  for  example 
applied to promote the active inclusion of those furthest away from the labour market, in 
full  respect  of  national  contexts  and  Member  States'  competencies.  Moreover,  attention 
needs  to  be  paid  to  ensuring  coherence  and  maximising  synergies  between  the  various 
coordination processes (e.g. the Lisbon and Sustainable Development Strategies, structural 
funds programming). 

•  Upholding Europe's values and ensuring a level-playing field: There is a solid EU legal 
framework in areas such as gender equality, anti-discrimination, free movement of workers 
and  working  and  employment  conditions.  European  social  partners  have  been  active  in 
negotiating agreements or defining joint strategies in key domains, such as parental leave, 
stress  at  work,  lifelong  learning  and  the  management  of  restructuring.  In  the  light  of 
changing social realities, the increased diversity of the EU and the new Reform Treaty, the 
legal  framework  needs  to  be  reviewed  and  adapted,  where  appropriate,  to  ensure  that  it 
reaches agreed goals effectively. EU legislation will remain essential to uphold the rights 
of  citizens  as  set  out  in  the  Treaty,  including  through  ensuring  a  better  compatibility 
between national rules. Finally, the EU has set out its views on how Europe can succeed in 
an  era  of  globalisation  by  shaping  global  regulation,  examining  best  ways  to  promote  a 
convergence of standards globally. 

•  Sharing  experiences  and  good  practices:  For  all  the  EU's  diversity,  Member  States  are 
often  faced  with  common  societal  trends  and  practical  difficulties,  offering  tremendous 
scope  for  mutual  learning.  Progress  towards  common  EU  goals  must  be  monitored, 
evaluated  and  compared.  Social  innovations  need  to  be  tested  and  the  social  returns  on 
different forms of investment need to be assessed. Best practice needs to be rolled out: EU 
mechanisms for exchange of experiences, joint evaluations and peer reviews should be re-
invigorated, making sure that they are part of the mainstream national and European policy 
debate.  Achieving  greater  involvement  of  national  and  regional  parliaments,  local  and 
regional authorities, social partners and NGOs is essential in this respect. 

•  Supporting action at local, regional and national level: Through its cohesion policy and 
structural funds, the EU has played a major role in reducing differences in prosperity and 
living  standards  across  the  EU.  The  funds  have  provided  and  continue  to  provide  the 

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financial lever for less advanced regions and Member States to catch up, and for a better 
interconnection and exchange between Member States. In recent years, these instruments 
have  become  more  closely  associated  with  the  "growth  and  jobs"  policy  priorities  of  the 
EU.  Over  the  period  2007-2013,  € 75  billion  are  being  invested  by  the  European  Social 
Fund (ESF) to equip the workforce with new skills and companies with innovative work 
organisations.  Moreover,  on  the  initiative  of  the  Commission,  a  European  Globalisation 
Fund has been put in place in order to help reintegrate into the labour market workers made 
redundant  due  to  changing  global  trade  patterns.  This  Fund  is  an  important  sign  of 
solidarity  for  those  affected  by  the  consequences  of  globalisation  and  it  should  serve  to 
provide  effective  preventive  and  active  measures  for  them  to  adapt  and  move  on.  The 
Commission has launched a debate on the future of the European budget after 2013. It will 
be important to feed the findings of this social reality consultation into that debate. 

•  Raising awareness and building a strong knowledge base: The EU has an important role 
to play in flagging key issues, stimulating discussion and creating political momentum for 
tackling common  challenges in Europe. Initiatives  such  as  the  European  Years  for  Equal 
Opportunities for All (2007), for Intercultural Dialogue (2008) and for combating Poverty 
and Social Exclusion (2010) facilitate this type of  discussion. Awareness and analysis of 
social  issues  has  often  been  hampered  by  the  lack  of  complete  and  up-to-date  EU-wide 
statistics  and  indicators.  The  collection  of  comparable  data  is  necessary  and  remains  a 
demanding  task.  Yet,  decision  makers  need  these  facts  in  order  to  better  inform  public 
debate and assess the social impact of initiatives. A number of foundations and agencies - 
the  European  Foundation  for  the  Improvement  of  Living  and  Working  Conditions,  the 
newly  created  European  Agency  for  Fundamental  Rights  and  the  European  Institute  for 
Gender  Equality  will  increasingly  contribute  to  inform  decision-making  and  raise 
awareness.  The  more  systematic  use  of  consultation  and  of  independent  expert  panels, 
including from non-EU countries, should also be a way to reinforce the evidence base and 
feed the European political debate.  

6. 

NEXT STEPS 

The  purpose  of  the  social  reality  stocktaking  is  to  analyse  afresh  the  complex  dynamics  of 
social change within our societies so as to be able to judge the relevance and appropriateness 
of current policies and develop a solid base for the future.  

The present Communication sketches out a new "life chances" social vision for 21st century 
Europe,  based  on  a  preliminary  analysis  of  how  our  societies  are  changing,  the  new  social 
challenges they face and how Member States and the EU could work in partnership to address 
those challenges. It enriches the on-going consultation by outlining possible areas for action 
and  the  role  of  the  EU  in  this  respect.  The  consultation  is  under  way  and  stakeholders  are 
invited  to  send  their  views.  To  facilitate  replies,  the  deadline  is  extended  to  15  February 
20085. 

Building on this consultation, the Commission will prepare a renewed Social Agenda for mid-
2008.  In  developing  this  new  Agenda,  it  will  review  the  nature,  scope  and  combination  of 
instruments  used  in  the  various  fields.  It  will  also  take  due account  of  the  new  institutional 
framework given by the Reform Treaty. Together with the review of the single market, this 
renewed Social Agenda will help deliver further concrete results for Europe's citizens. 

5 

Replies and additional comments can be sent to: SG-Social-Reality@ec.europa.eu 

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