Commissioner Hearing: Social Services should not be left out

Tuesday’s hearing of the Commissioner-designate for People, Skills and Preparedness confirmed that the EU needs a commissioner with a stronger social policy mandate. Our fear of social services being absent from the agenda of the current Commissioner-designate has been confirmed.

Neither in the mission letter, nor in her written and oral responses during the hearing social services have been mentioned as key partners for the delivery of social rights. But social services are key for implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR).

The European Social Network (ESN) highlighted to MEPs their concerns about the lack of prioritisation of social rights and services. However, during the hearing, ESN's concerns remained unaddressed.

Notably, ESN missed clarity on how the forthcoming EPSR Action Plan would support local authorities in improving social services, making the shift to community-based care, achieve sustainable financing, as well as ensuring quality care and support.

Despite the absence of initiatives for social services support in the discussions, ESN has identified a few messages relevant for social services:

🔖 Portfolio Title

The absence of social rights in her title was one of the first concerns raised. However, the Commissioner-designate for People, Skills, and Preparedness expressed openness to a name change. "My speech clearly reflects where my priorities lie," Ms Minzatu stated. ESN emphasises the importance of having a Commissioner for Social Affairs to tackle inequality and protect vulnerable groups, such as older people, people with disabilities, and those experiencing poverty. As noted in articles published in The EU Observer and the Times of Malta, Alfonso Lara Montero, ESN's CEO also highlighted the need to include social rights in the title. This would be a strong political sign for a commitment to social rights.

🏠 Tackling Homelessness

Endorsing the ‘Housing-First’ approach, Ms Minzatu emphasised that housing solutions should be paired with social services for holistic support.

🎓 Inclusive Erasmus+ Goals

She committed to making Erasmus+ more accessible, aiming for 1 in 4 beneficiaries from vulnerable backgrounds, including people with disabilities. By adding supportive measures and assistive technologies, Erasmus+ can advance the workforce inclusion goals of the Youth Guarantee.

🩺 Workforce Challenges

Ms Minzatu acknowledged the urgent need for investment in training, particularly within the healthcare sector, and highlighted the potential of ESF+ as a funding source. However, she missed the opportunity to address the equally pressing challenges facing the social services workforce. In her written response to MEPs questions, published earlier, she committed to create a coherent framework for addressing long term care workforce challenges, not only with the aim to facilitate the recognition of skills and qualifications, but also to improve working conditions. ESN emphasises that developing, retaining, and attracting a skilled workforce in social care and social services is crucial for the successful implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR). The European Commission should therefore develop a workforce strategy for the entire social sector.

💵 Minimum Income Programmes

Ms Minzatu highlighted the importance of pairing minimum income support with activation and social services, ensuring a sustainable safety net for the most vulnerable households. ESN has recently published a report on how this can be done.

 🤝 Intergenerational Solidarity & Family Support

Ms. Minzatu discussed social challenges such as loneliness and mental health while proposing a "European Care Deal" to uplift care workers. However, she did not explain how she pictured the care deal. ESN notes the need for a ‘Care Guarantee’ to ensure that everyone in Europe has access to adequate quality care and support.

🔮 Looking forward

ESN is dedicated to collaborating with the European Parliament and European Commission to build a truly inclusive and social Europe. Social services are the backbone of the EU’s commitment to the European Pillar of Social Rights, and quality community-based care requires a robust European framework for Social Services that includes financing, workforce development, and quality standards. This is our vision for Europe’s future.