European countries have already set a concrete target to reduce poverty and social exclusion by at least 20 million by 2020, and for that purpose the European Commission has put in place the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion putting forward the ways in which it will help Member states to achieve this objective. It is now Member states' turn to move up a gear in fighting social exclusion, for what they will count upon Commission's support mobilising policies like social protection, employment and education, as well as EU funding.

The new initiative about poverty and social exclusion described in the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion communication is one of the seven flagship initiatives of the EU’s Europe 2020 strategy. It sets out actions to bolster work at all levels to reach the EU headline poverty reduction target, being complementary and strongly linked to the other flagships which focus on raising employment and improving education and skills.

The communication also identifies the overall need to deliver anti-poverty actions across the entire policy spectrum such as: preventing the transmission of poverty through generations and tackling child poverty; using employment as a route out of poverty through active inclusion strategies; and stepping up efforts to integrate minority groups like the Roma people socially and economically.

Member States must take the lead in fighting against social exclusion and poverty. They will spell out their initiatives in the National Reform Programmes linked to the Europe 2020 strategy, as contributions to deliver growth and jobs. The Commission will evaluate these actions and set best practices.

European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion Key Actions

• Promoting innovation in social policy. Encouraging innovation to find smart solutions in post-crisis Europe, especially in terms of more effective and efficient social support. This means promoting evidence-based innovation in social policy, where the use of evidence-based methods tests and assesses policy change.
• At EU level. Making the best use of all EU Funds, in particular the European Social Fund, to support social inclusion objectives and proposing social policy as a priority for future EU funding. The new Microfinance Facility will be up and running in early 2011 and aims to help vulnerable groups access loans to set up their own business.
• Making social protection and services more effective and responsive to new social needs. The Commission will publish a White Paper in 2011 to address the safety, adequacy and sustainability of pensions. Actions linked to the quality of social services, health inequalities and housing exclusion are also planned and 2012 will be the European Year of Active Ageing.
• Bringing on board a much wider range of partners to fight exclusion. The Commission will set out voluntary guidelines on stakeholders' involvement in defining, shaping and carrying out poverty reduction actions to take on at national, regional and local level.