The EU perspective on poverty maps and their use

A case for poverty maps

Small deprived areas have difficulty receiving funds

Better defining the target areas Indirectly approaching the most vulnerable, e.g.

Roma without the ethnic criteria Example: Hungary, 33 poorest micro-regions

host 1/3 of the Roma but only 10% of the national population

Commission's contribution

1.2 m EUR for this cooperation with the World Bank

Pilot study in Bulgaria and Denmark National Statistical Offices's involvement in

further development of the maps and their use after are crucial

Poverty maps in service of the national Roma integration strategies

National strategies:

set goals for education, employment, healthcare and housing of the Roma

define the geographical scope of the excluded communities

foster a dialogue with Roma communities and leaders

The spread of poverty

Poverty – a characteristic of persons households neighbourhoods areas regions

From the policy perspective...

If poverty characterises an area, individuals are trapped in a system of problems.

Policy attempts to empower the local community by...

... training people and giving them new skills

providing public transport, make commuting easier

better business environment (IT, transport)

services of general interest: schools, hospitals

reducing environmental pollution

Cohesion Policy 2014-20Member States are invited to develop strategies to address the needs of the

poorest and the excluded groups of society

Choice between: geographical approach: areas affected

(poverty mapping is necessary)

target group approach: low income, migrants, Roma, disabled etc. (poverty maps are not necessary).

Reinforced social dimension of new European Social Fund

25% of the Cohesion envelope for the ESF (84bn)

20% of the ESF for promoting social inclusion and fighting poverty

ESF investment priority on the integration of marginalized communities, such as Roma

simplified financial management procedures and focus on results

earmarking for capacity building of NGOs better coordination of various fund to allow for

integrated approaches strands of funding

Sustainable urban development 5 % of the Regional Development Fund will

support sustainable urban development

and this may be combined with the European Social Fund

Poverty maps to help define deprived urban areas

Poverty maps to help improve the targeting Structural Funds

More effective targeting of Structural Funds to promote economic, social and territorial cohesion

The territorial approaches are not visible enough in the current European Social Fund, the poverty maps could help correct this

Thank you for your attention

Szilvia.Kalman@ec.europa.euBartek.Lessaer@ec.europa.eu

DG Employment, Social Affairsand Inclusion