CITIES AND THE SOCIAL SECTOR

Applicant countries

City administrations in the applicant countries have a short democratic tradition, compared to the EU cities. The social sector is new – in socialist times it was mainly handled by the Trade Unions. This may be one reason why the role cities in the social field are more divergent than in the EU countries.

Cities in the applicant country spend typically 5 -10 % of the municipal budgets on the social sector. This shall not be seen as a low priority – the difference compared to EU cities can be explained by an other cost structure, caused by the low income levels. To give the same relative social support in eastern cities, a far smaller amount is needed.

The governments create the legal framework, but the government financing varies. In Estonia and Poland, the government finances social support for the poorest, but in Lithuania the city does that. In other fields it can be the opposite.

During the last 10 years one development trend has been that the scopes have been widened and new problem areas have successively been introduced. The handicapped is such a "new" sector – in socialist times they were hidden in institutions and not integrated. Privatisation of institutions and activities is an other trend – in Estonia, most of the child care institutions are run by private bodies, even if the city pays most of their incomes. Problems connected with unemployed people did not exist earlier, now it is a growing field. Street Children is not a big problem if you look at numbers or costs, but it exists and causes much concern. Trends also include the individualisation of the social services – to create broad solutions for various categories with some social problem is replaced by solutions based on the individual needs.

Institutions are used more extensively than in the EU countries. One reason, besides traditions, is the relatively poor housing with limited space – even if integration is cheaper and more efficient there is simply not housing space enough.

It is believed that the widening of the responsibilities will continue. Other development plans include creation of centers for abused women in families and a efforts to create day care centers far various groups, like people with disabilities or with old age.

Also the legal situation is developing. In Lithuania, a large reform on responsibility for the social sector is planned for 2001. The fighting at the moment concerns if the government also will allocate more funding as a compensation for the transfer of responsibilities to the cities.

The role of the European Union is important but mostly indirectly. In the efforts to reach EU levels in all possible areas, development of the social services is one part. The contacts with other European countries have given inspiration and new know-how. If looking at future trends, EUaccession will play a certain role.

As EU is concentrating on employment, it is most likely that also social activities of cities in the applicant countries will start activities in the field. Some also mentioned the European Union fear of Social Dumping. It is important not to cause such acquisitions because it might lead to interference from EU.

Sources:
Ms Cecylia Tuznik, Director of Municipal Social Welfare Centre, Gdynia
Mr Egidijus Prizgintas, Director of Social Department of Klaipeda
Mr Jüri Köre, Vice-mayor of Tartu

EU Countries

With 50-60 % of the municipal budgets allocated to the social field makes the social sector the largest in terms of money in cities in the Scandinavian countries. About one third of it goes to elderly care, which indicates a ticking bomb, consisting of an ageing population demanding more care and fewer people in productive age. Elderly care is also in the limelight of the media, focusing both on quality and quantity of municipal resources for elderly care.

The social services are fairly similar in the Scandinavian countries. This reflects the very long traditions of development of services in a well-fare society. The standard is still very high, but other nations are closing up and in several aspects the standard is not so unique any more as it used to be a number of years ago.

The main trend in recent years during the economic crisis has been cuts in the social budgets on all levels. This has in some cases led to increased costs for cities, at the same time as also the cities have carried out budget cuts. Other trends have been more focus on individual's rights such as children's rights, decentralisation including user's influence, activation and local work, and the consequences of long lasting unemployment.

For the future, one problem is growing social differences. It will be more important to defend social security, and it becomes increasingly more difficult to get back to the society for persons that for some reason, like unemployment, has been pushed out of it. This so called "rest group" is growing and the solutions are more difficult to find.

Another growing problem is connected to the integration of immigrant and fugitives – a special aspect is that it is a politically hot potato, especially in Denmark where the issue in many ways dominates the internal political discussion. One of the parties in the Parliament has a very high profile on immigrants and has been successful to keep the issue on the agenda.

There is also a growing awareness that a more comprehensive perspective is needed and that all kind of city activity must be involved in social planning. Urban planning, housing and the school system – all have social implications.

The role of the Government is to create the legal framework. The roles regarding activities differ a little: In Denmark and in Finland, the government allocates funding for special purposes, but in Sweden, the money from the government can be used freely – to social services or something else. Instead, some of the tasks handled by the Danish municipalities are state responsibilities in Sweden, like pensions and sickness allowances.

In general the steering role of the Government is not felt very much. There is a possibility for cities to organise and carry out social work with no steering from the Government.

Also the EU is not felt very much. Perhaps because the social standard in the Scandinavian countries is high, the European Union instead turns to other countries with a less high standard.

Sources:
Ms Ingrid Augustinsson Swennergren, Head of Social Services, Karlskrona
Mr Kaj Stubben, Head of Development, Social Departement, Kolding