Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Social protection in European Union development cooperation

The Agenda for Change sets out EU policy on future development cooperation. It calls, inter alia, for a more comprehensive approach to human development, supporting increased access to quality health and education services and enhanced social protection in support of inclusive growth characterised by "people's ability to participate in and benefit from wealth and job creation".

Social protection can play a key role in reducing poverty and vulnerability. By increasing equity – e.g. through social transfers and increased access to basic social services – and providing protection against risk, social protection can support poverty reduction and inclusive growth, as well as supporting social cohesion and stability. However, the very different profiles of developing economies and the high levels of informality in their labour markets present a very different setting from that in which most of the existing social protection systems in the developed world were established, calling for innovative and tailor-made solutions based on country-specific needs and priorities.

The Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, international organisations and civil society have called on the Commission to prepare a proposal on social protection in EU development cooperation. The 2010 European Report on Development calls for social protection to be made an integral part of EU development policy. In 2011, the Commission launched a consultation process, which confirmed the relevance and timeliness of developing a policy framework for future EU support to social protection.

This Communication seeks to explain the role of social protection in underpinning inclusive and sustainable development and the role of EU development cooperation in supporting the strengthening of social protection policies and systems.

EUR-Lex: COM(2012)446: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2012:446:FIN

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