While inequalities remain a fundamental challenge across Europe, and the EU is progressively implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Social Network (ESN) has again asked the OSE to provide scientific underpinning of its work on the European Semester. The OSE contribution will draw on questionnaires that will be completed by ESN members. It will provide the substance for ESN proposals regarding the 2021 Country-specific Recommendations.
Social services
With inequality increasing across Europe and the EU not on track to achieve the Europe 2020 social objectives, the UK-based European Social Network (ESN) has again asked the OSE to provide scientific underpinning of its work on the European Semester. The focus will be on the impact of austerity policies on public social services management and provision, territorial disparities and evidence-based policy-making. Policy areas covered will include children’s services, homelessness and housing exclusion, community care and de-institutionalization as well as services to immigrants and refugees.
The OSE, along with the Research Institute for Work and Society (HIVA, KULeuven), conducted a research project aimed at exploring the practices of Belgian Public Centres for Social Action (PCSA), whose work is related to the social integration of first and second-generation migrants. The research investigated the practices of PCSAs, the partnerships that are mobilised and the interaction with other (social) policy strands. The project combined the findings of a web survey of the 587 Belgian PCSAs with more in-depth case studies.