EU Strategy on Social Protection and Social InclusionOne of our key tasks has been to review the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) in Social Protection and Social Inclusion, from a disability equality perspective, and to provide the Commission with useful evidence to support future policy development. In 2000, the EU launched the Social Inclusion Process towards eradicating poverty by 2010. The updated Social OMC is significant for the disability field because it includes key elements of concern to disability policies. The Common Objectives of the OMC highlight three key areas: (a) Social Inclusion, (b) Pensions, (c) Health and Long Term Care. The general objectives of most interest to our work are: to promote social cohesion and equality, and to involve stakeholders in designing, implementing and monitoring policies. The most relevant points for our research are:
Equal
access to resources, rights and services Poverty and Social inclusion are also linked to employment. Reform of the Lisbon Strategy in 2005 emphasised the need for Member States to: ‘increase labour supply and modernise social protection systems'. The Annex to the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs (2008-2010) stated that ‘Equal opportunities and combating discrimination are essential for progress...' and that ‘Member States should aim towards active social integration of all and fight poverty and exclusion of those and groups who are most marginalized in society' (p27). The process of policy co-ordination for social inclusion is based on exchange of information and shared learning between countries, involving many government and non-governmental organisations. We welcome discussion and good practice examples to assist our work in relation to the themes outlined here. The Disability Action Plan priorities for 2008-2009 included a focus on accessibility and emphasised that ‘Accessible goods, services and infrastructures are essential to sustain non-discriminatory and inclusive forms of participation in many aspects of everyday life', and that ‘Achieving accessibility requires the avoidance and removal of barriers that prevent disabled people from exercising their capabilities and participating fully and on equal terms'. (p. 7) The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities also includes reference to some key areas of concern:
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