European and international social policy
The activities of the Ministry of Social Affairs in the field of social policy at European and international levels.
The Ministry of Social Affairs is not only active in Austria, but is also represented in international organisations and at EU level.
These include:
- The European Union, and particularly the Council of the European Union
- The Council of Europe
- The United Nations
- Tie Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
- The International Labour Organisation (ILO).
In these organisations and their committees, the main issues are cooperation on social policy and the involvement in drawing up documents and making decisions. Alongside this there are also separate social policy arrangements with individual countries (bilateral issues).
Social policy in the EU
All of the Member States of the EU have very different social systems which have developed throughout history. The main responsibility for social policy is therefore still in the hands of the Member States themselves. Important tasks of the EU are EU legislation (directives and regulations) and the judicature (European Court). The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Protection Council (EPSCO) is one of the ten specialist councils at EU level. It pursues the goal of improving the standard of living and quality of life of the population, particularly via high-quality jobs and high standards of social, health and consumer protection. The EPSCO Council is made up of the ministers of all the EU Member States who are responsible for these policy areas.
Europe 2020 strategy
The Europe 2020 strategy is designed to promote growth and employment in the European Union. The Heads of State and Governments have adopted five strategic targets in the fields of employment, research and development, climate change and energy, as well as combating poverty and social exclusion. The targets are to be achieved by 2020. Two of the goals – increasing the employment rate among those aged between 20 and 64 to 75 percent and reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by 20 million – are of special significance for the Ministry of Social Affairs. The Member States establish national goals for the implementation of the joint European targets, and draw up progress reports within the framework of their annual national reform programmes. The monitoring and implementation of the strategy take place in the context of the European Semester. As part of the Europe 2020 strategy, the European platform against poverty and social exclusion has the task of helping the EU countries to reach the poverty goal. For the realisation of the strategy’s goals in Austria, the Ministry of Social Affairs has established the Austrian platform for combating poverty and social exclusion.
Open method of coordination
Within the framework of the open method of coordination in the field of social affairs (OMC social affairs) the Member States report on new national developments and reforms which have been incorporated into law. The Social OMC is a voluntary process of the coordination of European policy and increased cooperation in social policy in fields where the EU has limited or no competences (social protection and social inclusion, the provision of retirement income, and health and long-term care). An important element of the OMC is learning from each other, which means that the Member States exchange experiences and tried and tested procedures. The most important body for this cooperation is the Social Protection Committee. Thanks to the Social OMC, social protection policy has become an important element of the European agenda.
European Pillar of Social Rights
The European Pillar of Social Rights is a catalogue of essential principles of employment and social policy. The European Parliament, the Commission and the Council adopted the European Pillar of Social Rights in the form of an institutional proclamation in November 2017. It covers a total of 20 subject areas which are sub-divided into three main areas: equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion. Within the framework of the European Semester, the priorities of the pillar are taken into account and their implementation is supported.
International social policy
Bilateral issues
Bilateral activities serve to benefit the exchange of information with different countries worldwide. They include the organisation of bi- and multilateral expert seminars, visits by ministers, the conclusion of bilateral treaties and agreements, and bilateral working groups in the field of social affairs. Bilateral declarations of intent on cooperation in the field of employment and social issues have been made with several countries (i.e. Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova). The main thematic focuses are questions of combating poverty, policy for and with senior citizens, active ageing, long-term care, policy for people with disabilities, social services and health.
A total of three special attachés from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection work in the countries of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia (one official covering all three countries), Albania and North Macedonia (one official covering both countries) as well as in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine (one official covering both countries), where they further strengthen bilateral cooperation. The special attachés support the attachés countries on their way towards EU accession through fostering the convergence with European social and health standards locally.
United Nations - international social policy
The United Nations plays a significant role in the creation and implementation of international social policy. The organisation has 193 member states, and its headquarters are in New York City
Its Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Committee for Social Development (CSocD) are the main bodies of the UN in terms of social policy. In September 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in New York. They cover three dimensions: the economy, the environment and social affairs. The idea behind these goals is to promote sustainable development and to end poverty in the world by 2030.
An overview of the SGDs
- Combating poverty
- Combating hunger, promoting food safety and healthy nutrition
- Health and the structure of the world population
- Education and lifelong learning
- Gender equality and the strengthening of the position of women
- Water management and sanitary systems
- Access to energy
- Economic growth, productive work carried out in decent conditions
- Infrastructure, industrialisation and innovation
- Elimination of inequality in and between countries
- Sustainable cities and inclusive, safe housing
- Sustainable consumption and production
- Combating climate change
- The protection and sustainable use of seas, rivers and lakes
- The protection and restoration of the ecosystems and biodiversity
- The promotion of peaceful societies, access to justice, and inclusive institutions
- The means to realise the goals and a global partnership.
The realisation of the SDGs in Austria
The realisation of the global sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030 is being supported by all Austrian ministries in their respective sphere of responsibility (PDF, 2 MB). In summer 2024, Austria presented its "2nd Voluntary National Review on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs" at the United Nations in New York. More information on the presentation of the report on national und international level can be found on the website of the Austrian Federal Chancellery. Numerous success stories and flagship initiatives linked to the implementation of the sustainable development goals in Austria can also be found there. Success stories from the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection include the national programme “early childhood interventions” ("Frühe Hilfen"), the care reform package "community nursing" and the initiative "Wohnschirm" which helps with excessive housing costs.