Social investment package

The Commission urges EU countries to put more emphasis on social investment. Social investment means enhancing people's capacities and supporting their participation in society and the labour market. This will benefit individuals' prosperity, boost the economy and help the EU emerge from the crisis stronger, more cohesive and more competitive.
The potential usefulness of cross-nationally comparable reference budgets has drawn the attention of the European Commission, which included in its communication on a Social Investment Package several references to developing and using reference budgets in the European Union.