Our work programme
The MHE Annual Work Plan for the years 2008-2010, entitled "Working together in the EU – Enhancing communication, collaboration and commitment in the fight against poverty and social exclusion of people with mental health problems" (supported by the European Commission PROGRESS Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity 2007-2013), has the overall goal to develop and strengthen MHE’s capacities and that of its member organisations, including people with mental health problems, who are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, to inform and influence employment and social policy and processes at the local, national, regional and European level with a view to better reflecting the needs of people with mental health problems.
Under this overall goal, the main thematic emphasis is given to the upcoming review of the renewed Lisbon Strategy and the National Strategy Reports on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2010.
As part of this process, MHE closely monitors and follows-up the Commission Communications on active inclusion and on social services of general interest, as a means to promote the active and social inclusion of people with mental health problems who are amongst those furthest from the labour market. MHE contributes to the renewed Social Agenda as well as to other reflections on the EU and its future missions.
In order to reach these thematic targets, MHE is investing in 2008-2010 in three overarching objectives:
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improve the organisational capacity and management of MHE;
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reinforce the European social dimension of the renewed Lisbon strategy for Growth and Jobs to better respond to the challenges and needs of people with mental health problems;
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continuous exchange and dialogue with EU Institutions and other stakeholders on designing future policies in employment and social fields to better reflect the needs of people with mental health problems.
About the PROGRESS PROGRAMME
PROGRESS is the EU’s new employment and social solidarity programme. Working alongside the European Social Fund (ESF), it started in 2007 and will run until 2013. This programme replaces the four previous ones that ended in 2006 covering actions against discrimination, equality between men and women, employment measures and the fight against social exclusion. The EU opted for a single programme to rationalise and streamline EU funding and concentrate its activities to improve the impact.
