EAPN speaks at EPSU’s Economic Committee

25/10 – EAPN presented the 2012 NRP Report and country-specific Recommendations to EPSU, European public services union, Economic Committee on the 25th October. The presentation formed part of a mutual exchange on EU and national engagement in Europe 2020, and explored the potential for increased collaboration between EPSU and EAPN members in the NRP/Economic semester process.

Joint Press Release: MEMBER STATES URGED TO SUPPORT THE MOST DEPRIVED IN EUROPE

Brussels, 25 October 2012 – Eurodiaconia, Caritas Europa, Red Cross/EU Office, the European Anti-Poverty Network(EAPN), the European Federation of Food Banks and FEANTSA call on EU Member States to show commitment to the Europe 2020 Strategy and fully support the European Commission’s proposal of a Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, issued yesterday.

EAPN speaks in Cyprus High Level Presidency Conference: Investing in Children: Preventing and tackling child poverty and social exclusion, promoting well-being

18-19/10, Nicosia – EAPN Estonia, Cyprus and EAPN secretariat participated in this important high level conference organized by the Cypriot Presidency aiming to send strong messages to the Commission and Council on the need to strongly back a Commission Recommendation on tackling Child Poverty and promoting well-being due in early 2013, as part of the Social Investment Package. Apart from the plenary sessions involving the Ministry, Commission and the Cypriot Children’s Parliament, a panel debate involving ministries approach to austerity was held, then 3 parallel workshop sessions on the 3 pillars of the upcoming Recommendation:

From Nobel Prize to ACTION: EAPN calls on EU leaders to deliver on their commitments

Brussels, 15 October 2012 – The award of the Nobel Prize to the European Union for its contribution to peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights is, as President Barroso said, “a message of hope and confidence in the EU at a time when the EU faces a great challenge”. A great challenge indeed, as the EU’s response to the crisis attests to a three-fold failure: EU leaders have failed to deliver on its promises on poverty reduction, have in fact generated more poverty by ‘austerity-only’ driven policies, and neglected democratic fundamental principles. In its letter sent today to EU Prime Ministers and Heads of State ahead of the Council Meeting on 18 and 19 October, where they will discuss next steps on the future of the Economic and Monetary Union, EAPN urges EU Leaders to demonstrate their commitment to a Social Union and to the safeguarding of democracy.

On 16 October, EAPN sent another letter to the Presidents of the EU, urging them to create a special fund to support organisations fighting poverty, exclusion and inequality.