Authors: Niall Crowley
This discussion paper seeks to document and inform the contribution of equality bodies to achieving the headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy, enable Equinet to support the contribution of equality bodies, and inform Equinet’s contribution to the mid-term review of the Europe 2020 strategy.
The European Council adopted the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in 2010. It is constructed around five headline targets and involves seven flagship initiatives that drive its implementation. The European semester is the annual European policy cycle developed to implement the Europe 2020 strategy and to ensure coordination across the Member States. The European Structural and Investment Funds are expected to support initiatives at Member State level that enable their contribution to achieving the headline targets of the strategy.
This discussion paper reflects Equinet’s recognition that the work of equality bodies contributes to the field of economic policy and of economic outcomes. It is based on an understanding of the role of equality, diversity and non-discrimination in economic progress and wellbeing.
Equinet is conscious of the importance of the Europe 2020 strategy to the future of Europe. The combination of economic, social and environmental goals in the strategy is important and reflects an ambition for inclusion that is relevant to the mandate and work of equality bodies. Equinet seeks to support and further develop the contribution of equality bodies to inclusive growth and, therefore, to the further development and implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy.
The purpose of this discussion paper is to:
The preparation of this discussion paper involved a survey of Equinet members’ involvement with the Europe 2020 strategy and the European Structural and Investment Funds at Member State level. The questions for this survey are included in Annex One. Further one-to-one contact was made with relevant personnel from those equality bodies that reported a high level of involvement. Key stakeholders were also met with in order to inform this discussion paper. Equinet’s relevant structures were involved in setting the parameters for this discussion paper and in guiding its preparation.