The European Social Policy Analysis Network (ESPAN) brings together independent experts on social inclusion and social protection. It

• provides timely and high-quality information to the European Commission on social protection and social inclusion policies (and related socio-economic developments and trends) and
• supports the European Commission in monitoring progress within the European Semester framework and against the achievement of the 2030 social targets.
• supports the Commission in identifying and promoting the exchange of good practices and the development of dynamics of mutual learning that can support the achievement of the EU’s social objectives.

The Mutual Information Systems on Social Protection (MISSOC) network of national delegates, whose members are appointed by the authorities of participating countries (EU Member States and EEA/EFTA countries), ensures exchange of information on national social protection systems by preparing comparative legislative tables (addressed mainly to professional users) and social security guides for the general public.

Applica is responsible for coordinating the work of MISSOC and for communication activities (seminars, publications and online resources).

2021 - 2022

The aim of the project, awarded to Applica and ICF (leader), was to provide a comprehensive assessment of the challenges in the effectiveness of the EU Member States’ minimum income schemes. The main tasks included

• mapping existing schemes;
• identifying strengths and challenges in their effectiveness for alleviating poverty and facilitating labour market transition and social inclusion;
• and the impact assessment of various measures aiming at enhancing the effectiveness of these schemes.

The final report can be downloaded here: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=8540&furtherPubs=yes

The study aims to provide a thorough economic and financial analysis of the design, feasibility, governance and implementation options of a possible future Child Guarantee Scheme in all EU Member States. To achieve this, it has prepared a detailed comprehensive study exploring what would be the most cost-effective strategy for the competent authorities to realise a child guarantee for all children at risk of poverty in the EU. The study complements the Study on the feasibility of a child guarantee for vulnerable children: Phase I.

2019 - 2022

The project was conducted for Eurostat by the consortium composed of Applica (leader) and Alphametrics. The overall purpose of the project was to support Eurostat in the continued undertaking of ESSPROS related activities and to assist in the work to further develop the ESSPROS system.

Main tasks in the project:

• developing the existing ESSPROS data collections.
• supporting the extension of the ESSSPROS system through the development of the methodological basis for a new data collection on the number of recipients/beneficiaries of social benefits in the unemployment function.
• assisting Eurostat in the preparation and delivery of meetings that underpin the ongoing process of exchange and consensus building amongst ESSPROS stakeholders.
• statistical training for ESSPROS domain.

2019 - 2020

The overall purpose of the study is to collect and report policy-relevant evidence on preferences of the citizens for social protection. The analysis aims, in  particular, at identifying the type of social contract that is favoured by people, at providing a clear overview of the factors that influence the demand for social protection and solidarity, and at exploring the potential for EU-wide solidarity and protection.

2018 - 2020

The study aims at providing an analysis of the design, feasibility, governance and implementation options of a possible future European Child Guarantee for vulnerable children. The results of the study, which will also gather the views  of national authorities, international organisations as well as civil society, will be presented at a final conference in the first half of 2020.

2018 - 2022

The European Social Policy Network (ESPN) brought together independent experts on social inclusion and social protection and government experts on social protection systems (the Mutual Information Systems on Social Protection – MISSOC).

The ESPN provided high quality and timely independent information, advice, analysis and expertise in monitoring progress towards the EU’s social (protection and inclusion) goals and helped the Commission to identify and stimulate debate and discussion on effective policy developments and innovative developments in Member States.

Applica was responsible for coordinating the work of the government experts on social protection systems (MISSOC) and for communication activities (seminars, publications and online resources).

2013 - 2017

The aim of the project is to analyse trends in income distribution, poverty, social exclusion and material deprivation as well as health across the European Union, the position of different groups in society in these regards and the social welfare systems in place in different Member States for tackling problems of inequality and deprivation.

2015 - 2015

The aim of this contract was to investigate existing datasets on social protection (including the ILO Social Security Inquiry, ESSPROS, the Social Security Administration’s Social Security Programs Throughout the World) with a view to develop a methodology to advance towards a consistent global database. The work implied mapping existing datasets, identifying major gaps in the data and setting up a framework to integrate them into the macroeconomic structure of the UN Global Policy Model (UN GPM).

2012 - 2016

The purpose of the contract is to provide support to the Commission on the Peer Review process which is aimed at improving policy in the areas of social protection and social inclusion. Applica is responsible for the communication strategy, for publications, summary reports and the website.

2014 - 2015

The objective of this pilot project is to develop a common methodology and examine the possibilities for developing cross-nationally comparable reference budgets in all EU Member States. The work is carried out with the support of national experts and stakeholders.

2014 - 2014

The aim of this project is to set up and run a set up and run a “data support centre” which will assist Managing Authorities in collecting, processing and storing ESF data and thereby improve the quality, reliability and comparability of data on ESF interventions.

2014 - 2018

The European Social Policy Network (ESPN) brings together the work previously done by the independent experts on social inclusion for the assessment of national social inclusion policies,  the independent experts for the analytical support on social protection reforms and by the government experts on social protection systems (the Mutual Information Systems on Social Protection – MISSOC).

The ESPN will provide high quality and timely independent information, advice, analysis and expertise in monitoring progress towards the EU’s social (protection and inclusion) goals and will help the Commission to identify and stimulate debate and discussion on effective policy developments and innovative developments in Member States.

Applica is responsible for coordinating the work of the government experts on social protection systems (the Mutual Information Systems on Social Protection – MISSOC) and for communication activities (seminars, publications and online resources).

2013 - 2014

The report will adopt a wide-ranging view of the support available to young people in different parts of Europe and set out the different kinds of support that are provided, their level in terms of the income they provide, the extent to which they are conditional on certain circumstances, modes of behavior or the other income coming into the household.

2005 - 2012

Coordination of a European team of experts analysing trends in income distribution, poverty and deprivation across the EU.

2008 - 2009

The objective of the study is to develop indicators that enable the coverage of unemployment, maternity/paternity and sickness benefits in the EU to be monitored for people in flexible employment.

2006 - 2007

Production of briefing notes/reports and impact studies on forthcoming employment and social policy initiatives for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament.

2007 - 2007

The objective of this project is to assist Eurostat in the preparation, collection and validation of the pilot data collection on net social protection benefits to be carried out in all Member States by the end of 2008 and the preparation of feasibility studies to improve the data.

2002 - 2003

The primary concern of this project, after collecting data on the demand and provision of childcare from all Member States, was to indicate the data which still need to be made available in order to assess the support available to those with children and the use they make of this. A parallel aim was to develop a methodology for data collection to ensure some degree of coherence and as much comparability as possible across countries.

1993 - 2001

Analysis, drafting and editing of the five biennial reports analysing trends and developments in social protection systems across Europe as well as overall management of production of the first four.