The OMC inclusion and national social NGOs: From enthusiasm to ...

consideration. The picture is completed by field research done by other scholars, more so inGermany than in France 2 .This contribution is a first account of the empirical findings related to the topic of interesthere. It therefore will contend itself with first ad-hoc plausibilisations, to be systematised andre-thought in a next step. The structure of the text is as follows. The next section will reviewhow the OMC inclusion can generally be researched and the place of social NGOs in itparticularly (2). The third part will proceed to the empirical account of the “relationship”between this OMC and national social NGOs, with a brief look at the EU-level (3). Finally, apreliminary explanation of the results will be provided before turning to a more generaldiscussion of the issues at stake (4).2. Researching the OMC inclusion in general and the role of national socialNGOs in particularThe OMC inclusion exists since 2000. At the end of that year, common objectives wereendorsed and one year later common indicators adopted. Member states agreed to writebiennial National Action Plans (NAPs) in which they lay out their policies and examples ofso-called good practices; the indicators can be found in the annexes. A Joint Report of theCommission and the Council follows which resembles more a summary than an evaluation ofthe NAPs. Since 2004, there have also been peer reviews 3 . Finally, a Communitarian actionprogramme against social exclusion is meant to support this OMC 4 .Researching the OMC inclusion – as well as other social OMCs – is quite difficult. This is sofor several reasons. First, this OMC has no binding elements at the EU-level other than thatthe member states did agree, in 2000, to develop such a process with common objectives andto write biennial action plans. However, as the common objectives are quite vague 5 and asmember states cannot be forced to translate them into national legislation or programmes, it isquasi impossible to causally relate a certain policy development to this OMC with any sort ofcertainty. Second, the much debated multi-level system that the EU forms adds to the(methodological) difficulties, leaving space for many intervening factors at varying levels of2 To my knowledge, only a single French researcher has conducted field research about this OMC.3 These take place 7-8 times a year. These take place in alterning member states, last one and a half days and aremeant to discuss and present particular “good practices” in greater detail, see Kröger 2006a.4 This action programme runs for the period 2002-2006 and mounts up to 75 million Euro – a small sumcompared with its ambitions. It is run by the Commission and has three motivations: foster research andstatistical work, support exchange of policies and networking.5 1) Access to employment and to resources, rights, goods and services, 2) prevention of the risks of exclusion,3) help for the most vulnerable and 4) mobilisation of all relevant actors.