Nearly 1 in 4 persons is in or at risk of poverty and/or social exclusion in the EU.
Member States must respect their commitments and allocate the necessary funds to the fight against poverty.
As concerned citizens, we call on Presidents and Prime Ministers of EU Member States to respect the commitment they made when agreeing the EU poverty−reduction target! We urge them to invest EU Money for poverty reduction now by:
- Allocating at least 25% of the Cohesion Policy budget to the European Social Fund (ESF)
- Earmarking at least 20% of the European Social Fund to poverty reduction and social inclusion.
Support 20% allocation of the European Social Fund for social inclusion and poverty reduction!
In 2013, the EU’s next 7-year budget, including the ESF’s budget, is to be adopted and 26 of our Member States seem ready to reject this proposal, which raises severe questions about their commitment to 23% of the EU population in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion!
We must urgently work to influence our Governments at national and EU levels to back the Commission’s proposal!
Download the campaign’s leaflet: Dutch – English – Estonian – French – German – Italian –Portuguese – Spanish
For more information on European social policy, the role of the European Social Fund and this campaign, read the background paper in English and in Estonian
This campaign is being run by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) with its members the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA), Caritas Europa, the European Network Against Racism (ENAR), Eurochild, Eurodiaconia, AGE Platform, Salvation Army, Mental Health Social Exclusion Europa (SMES Europa), International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) Europe, as well as the Platform of European Social NGOs (Social Platform), SOLIDAR, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL), the European Disability Forum (EDF), the European association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) Europe, Mental Health Europe, Workability Europe, PICUM and Inclusion Europe.