Progress has been made on social values, through the Commission’s Autumn Package. Fintan Farrell and Sian Jones explain what has been done and what is still left to do. (Euractiv 25 November 2016)
Fintan Farrell is acting director of EAPN and Sian Jones is its policy coordinator.
On 16 November, the European Commission adopted the Autumn Package. EAPN and many other organisations and individuals have been pressing for a change of direction to a more Social Europe, including:
- A shift in paradigm bringing an end to austerity policies and investing in a transformative social and economic agenda capable of delivering inclusive and sustainable development;
- A clear social agenda based on rights and social investment;
- An Integrated EU strategy and programme to fight poverty, ensuring access to quality jobs, services and social protection;
- More democracy, including the fostering of effective participation of civil society organisations and the participation of people experiencing poverty.
Trends in global politics seem far from these demands so it has come as a welcome development that some positive signs can be found in the recently published Annual Growth Survey by the European Commission.
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