Press Release: Social investment: Commission urges Member States to focus on growth and social cohesion

The European Commission has called on Member States to prioritise social investment and to modernise their welfare states. This means better performing active inclusion strategies and a more efficient and more effective use of social budgets. The call features in a Communication on Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion just adopted by the Commission.

The Communication also offers guidance to Member States on how best to use EU financial support, notably from the European Social Fund, to implement the outlined objectives. The Commission will closely monitor the performance of individual Member States' social protection systems through the European Semester and formulate, where necessary, Country Specific Recommendations.

• Primary Source

European Commission: MEMO/13/118: Social investment: Commission urges Member States to focus on growth and social cohesion – social situation in Member States http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-118_en.htm

European Commission: MEMO/13/117: Social investment: Commission urges Member States to focus on growth and social cohesion – frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-117_en.htm

European Commission: SPEECH/13/141: The Social Investment Package – focussing on growth and social cohesion http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-141_en.htm

European Commission: SPEECH/13/148: Fighting poverty and preserving democracy through social investment http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-148_en.htm

European Commission: SPEECH/13/161: Living standards in Europe and the importance of social investment http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-161_en.htm

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