National plan of action to combat poverty and social exclusion 2003-2005

The Nice European Council of December 2000 made a decision on preparing national plans of action to combat poverty and social exclusion as a part of the EU Member States’ political co-operation in the field of social protection. The plans of action are based on the objectives for combating poverty and exclusion agreed upon jointly. The Member States prepared the first two-year national action plans in 2001. After the discussions conducted under the lead of the Social Protection Committee the Council for Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs adopted in December 2002 the revised objectives for the second round of national plans. The new national plans have to be completed by 31 July 2003. The aim is to prepare a joint report of the Commission and the Member States for the European Council of spring 2004.

With a view to facilitating reciprocal learning, specific guidelines have been issued to harmonise the structure and content of the different Member States’ action plans. The Social Protection Committee agreed at its meeting in October 2002 on the time schedule and framework for the national reports to be prepared for the years 2003 - 2005. The new emphases are adjusting the objectives to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty and exclusion, taking into account gender and regional differences in social exclusion, and paying attention to the risk of poverty and social exclusion as a result of immigration.

The broad-based working group set up by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has been responsible for preparing the new action plan. It is based on the same policy lines as the previous report concerning the development of the Finnish universal socio-political system, and on the new government programme and strategic development programmes of various actors. It is characteristic of the welfare state of the 21st century to emphasise know-how, social justice and regional balance, and to encourage people to work and entrepreneurship. Finland’s line in combating poverty and social exclusion is based on the principles of the Nordic welfare state, including universal services and adequate social protection. The various sectors of social policy aim to prevent threats of exclusion. In particular the position of groups at risk of exclusion has been pinpointed. The efficiency of the previous plan has been assessed based on the working group’s own appraisal, expert opinions and on the hearings that have been arranged. The objective of the measures included in the plan is to improve the position of socially excluded persons, to prevent difficulties in making a living and to increase the access to worklife of persons with low employability. The results will be measured by means of the indicators contained by the plan in the long term.

National Plan of Action to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion. Helsinki 2003. 74pp.
Working Group Memorandums of the Ministry of  Social Affairs and Health 2003:23eng
ISBN 952-00-1402-0
ISSN 1237-0606