European Pillar of Social Rights

In order to ensure the implementation of EPSR principles, European institutions have developed 17 headline and dozens of secondary indicators that are being monitored in the context of the European Semester. Slovenia is among the top four EU Member States for six headline indicators and above the EU average for all other headline indicators, except for the indicator regarding the unmet need for medical care, where it lags behind most EU Member States, and the basic digital skills indicator, where it is just below the EU average (see Figures 1–3). Compared to other EU Member States, Slovenia has one of the lowest levels of inequality (the income quintile share ratio or S80/S20) and people at-risk-of-poverty and social exclusion (AROPE) in the EU and the lowest level of children (0–17 years old) at-risk-of poverty and social exclusion among all Member States. It also has a low proportion of early leavers from education and training (18–24 years old). Slovenia is also among the best performing countries in terms of disability employment gap and the housing cost overburden rate. A more detailed analysis of EPSR areas in Slovenia showed that, despite the high rankings according to some headline indicators, certain challenges remain, and highlighted areas and rights where action is needed. Challenges arise in the areas of social inclusion of certain vulnerable groups, the efficiency and sustainability of social protection systems and, in particular, in the monitoring and development of equality and inclusion programmes for groups that are under-represented in social rights monitoring indicators. In addition to the unmet need for health-care, which seems to be the biggest challenge in Slovenia under the EPSR, there are several others, which are defined in the new IMAD publication: European Pillar of Social Rights – Slovenia 2000–2020.