Part A - Feantsa - Horus

Part C _ Think Pieces
315
If this step is not taken, the most relevant stakeholders – those who can bring about
progress on social inclusion policies in the member states – will lose interest and
cease being involved. In fact, this process has already begun in spite of efforts in
previous years to raise awareness about the OMC. We must not be blind to the fact
that involvement in the OMC is limited to a relatively small inner circle of stakeholders,
several of which depend heavily on the continuation of the OMC in its
current format for their survival, and to ensure that they do not lose power.
Progress on specific themes is possible and will help to raise the social profile of
the EU. Focusing on specific themes might even be a more effective way to develop
the role of the EU as a serious social policy player. To make such an approach work,
the Commission and the SPC have to involve the European NGOs that have been
funded under PROGRESS as real, strategic partners ; they must develop and
actively support new tools under the OMC, such as the consensus conference,
which are separate to the NAPs, common objectives and common indicators ; and
they must take on a more ambitious role in the development, implementation and
evaluation of social inclusion policies in different member states.
Specific EU strategies around those themes that have been identified as priorities
should therefore be developed. These strategies should have clear common objectives
and involve the development of clusters of (European) stakeholders and of
activities such as studies, peer reviews and data collection around the different
themes. Why not strengthen the Inclusion OMC by launching a limited set of
thematic OMCs ? FEANTSA is certainly ready for an OMC on homelessness.