Good Practices in Providing Integrated Employment and Social Services in Central and Eastern Europe

The fight against poverty and social exclusion is a central concern of the EU (European Union) and the Member States. The EU employment guidelines have, since the launch of the European Employment Strategy in 1997, focused on prevention of overall unemployment. The Lisbon strategy (March 2000) also contained explicit goals for the next decade to modernise the European social model, invest in people, combat social exclusion and eradicate poverty by 2010. Through the EU Social Protection and Social Inclusion Process, the EU coordinates and encourages Member States’ actions to combat poverty and social exclusion, and to reform their social protection systems.