What is ESIP?

ESIP (European Social Inclusion Platform) is a unique non-profit organisation which brings together key organisations and actors who are actively involved in addressing the issue of social inclusion at a local, regional, national and European level. It was launched in October 2004 at an EU seminar “Continuity and Change: Social Inclusion in an Enlarged EU”, which was attended by delegates from 8 of the then ‘new’ member states and two accession countries, alongside delegates from 7 ‘old’ member states. (Seminar report)

 

ESIP is unique in a number of important aspects:

 

• Its focus and priorities reflect the needs of new member states and accession countries. ESIP has emerged in a direct response to enlargement and the needs identified by new member states and accession countries.
• Its membership is multi-sectoral . It brings together local, regional, national authorities and community based organisations;
• Its membership also incorporates researchers and experts working in the field. These are individuals working in the education sector or independent research foundations. As such the platform creates a unique link between research and practice;

 

As such ESIP is the only multi-sectoral, European wide network working in the field of social inclusion. It is unique in creating the basis for developing both vertical linkages between different sectors and levels as well as horizontal links in terms of integrated approaches that are well recognised as the key approach to tackling social exclusion.

 

What are the ESIP objectives?

The overall objective of the Platform is to further, in a non-profit-making capacity, local, regional, national and European policies and initiatives which address the issue of social exclusion. To this end, it has the following specific objectives:

• To promote the transnational exchange of learning, information and experience in relation to the development and implementing of local, regional and national plans for social inclusion.
• To set up transnational training and exchange activities for key actors at local, regional and national levels
• To organise meetings and seminars, and to publish articles and research.
• To set up access to online resources for key actors.

More specifically, to achieve these objectives ESIP will undertake the following specific actions:

• Develop an annual programme of peer review and development seminars which will bring together key actors from new member states as well as participants from the former EU15 in order to facilitate the transfer of experience and improve the capacity of participants.
• Create an online knowledge and practise exchange which will have the following components:
  • Thematic based case studies
  • Links to relevant websites and publications
  • Network of key actors, incorporating short profiles
  • Learning forums
• Create a network of consultants, experts who will operate as a social enterprise offering affordable advise and support to Platform members.
  
• Liase with the European Commission and other EU networks and institutions in order to reflect the needs of Platform members.
  
• Develop EU projects which reflect the priorities and interests of the Platform.