“Challenges of new social policy” is a collection of texts analyzing policies directed at poverty reduction and social exclusion in the context of transformation of welfare states in the EU, and transformation of the Serbian society. The objective was to provide a better understanding of social inclusion policy, to draw the attention of professionals and the general public away from the narrow focus on poverty and towards the broader concept of social inclusion, and to facilitate exchange of information on national social inclusion policies with the EU. In addition, the practical goal was to mobilize relevant actors in the fight against poverty and social exclusion, and to strengthen capacities of civil society organizations which represent the socially excluded.
Particular attention was paid to the Open Method of Coordination, established by the Lisbon Strategy as an institutional framework for coordinating strategic goals at the EU level with social policies of member states. Processes of reforming social policy in Serbia were also analyzed, as well as the efforts to harmonize it with some of the basic common principles in the EU.
The Study is aimed at various types of audience: the professional community, political decision makers and representatives of relevant institutions at state, provincial and local levels, civil society organizations and the general public.
