universiteit antwerpenThe OMC

Main developments

Over the course of recent decades, the European Union has taken on an increasingly active role in the field of social policy.

The Open Method of Coordination

The Open Method of Coordination provides a framework of political coordination without legal constraints (“soft law”). Member States agree to identify and promote their most effective policies in the fields of Social Protection and Social Inclusion with the aim of learning from each others’ experiences.
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Common objectives

The streamlining of the Social OMC involved the introduction of a new set of objectives, which were endorsed by the EU in 2006. First, the overarching objectives provide a general framework for the Open Method of Coordination as a whole.
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Common indicators

In assessing Member States’ progress towards the common objectives, comparable and robust indicators are of key importance.
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National Reports

Based on the common objectives and the common indicators, each Member State submits regular national strategic reports to the European Commission. In these reports, countries assess their progress towards the common objectives. The reports also present the national strategies and planned measures. Since the streamlining of the three processes (social inclusion; pensions; health and long-term care) the reports take on the form of ‘National Report on Strategies for Social Protection and Social Inclusion (NRSSPSI).

Joint Reports

Based on the NRSSPSI, the European Commission and the Council provide a joint analysis and assessment in the form of a Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion. These reports take stock of progress made towards the common objectives and the implementation. The Joint report sets key priorities for the coming years and identifies good practice and innovative approaches of common interest to the Member States.