D5.6: Annual State of the Union Report – Part 2 How is EU employment policy driving social innovation?

Abstract

SIC has produced its second 'state of the union' report, researching and mapping how EU employment policy is driving social innovation throughout Europe. The European Commission has recognised a need to address fundamental challenges around work and employment across the European Union. The European Pillar of Social Rights (2017) highlights that the future of the EU depends on its ability to position itself as a promoter of solutions to social challenges, in a context of growing social and economic deprivation in the post-crisis era. In this context, the importance of social innovation (SI) becomes clear. Social innovation has been broadly defined by the Commission as the development of "new ideas, services and models to better address social issues", involving both public and private actors (including civil society). In the absence of clear top-down policy 'solutions', it essential for the EU to support experimentation, through both national and transnational projects, so that imaginative answers may develop to the questions around employment and work which loom large over Europe's future. This report aims to find out how the EU is promoting these solutions. Through a detailed policy analysis, expert interviews and a comparative study of five cases from across Europe this report seeks to answer the following questions: What are the characteristics of EU-supported employment social innovations? How is the EU driving these innovations? Employment is a key priority for the EU. The Europe 2020 strategy includes a target to raise the employment rate to ensure 75% of people aged 20-64 are in employment by 2020, alongside related targets on poverty and skills. Europe 2020 and several key employment policy strategies and initiatives make explicit reference to social innovation. They also broadly recognise innovation in both processes and governance as a crucial factor in achieving policy goals. Meanwhile, EU funds are key levers to support the implementation of both strategies and initiatives. Our literature review and ...