1975
These programs were the result of an important achievement: the recognition that the fight against poverty and social exclusion should be a competence of the EU. As a sequence to the oil crisis in 1973 and its devastating consequences in several countries, the European Economic Community (EEC) decided to put...
1989
More than two hundred persons involved in anti poverty actions (mainly as a result of the anti-poverty programs) throughout the member states were brought together in June 1989 in Brussels with financial support from the Commission, organised by ESCAP. The gathering came to the conclusion that there was a need...
1990
Hiring of the first EAPN Director: Marie-Françoise Wilkinson (France) and she will stay as Director for twelve years (1990-2002). Election of the first EAPN President: Quintin Oliver (UK – Northern Ireland) and he will stay for two years (one mandate) as President (1990-1992). December – First General Assembly...
1991
EAPN Working Group on Minimum Income and Access to Services would exist between 1991 and 1993. Meeting 4 times with core group of six people, and once with eight representatives of the member states and one representative of EOs in June 93. The work of the group was used to...
1992
Publication of the first “Networks News”: Between April 1992 and January 2001, 80 issues were published; from April 1995, “Network News” started to be published in Spanish as well as French and English. The first Italian version appeared in January 1998, and the German version in April of that year....
1993
End of the 3rd European Anti-Poverty Programme: By the end of “Poverty III” the understandable expectations were that the establishment of a European anti-poverty strategy (called informally as “Poverty IV”) was possible. The overall experience with the 3 previous programmes prepared the road for that decision. However that would not...
1994
Establishment of the Social Policy Task Force: This was a crucial working group of EAPN, responsible for the advocacy work of the organisation and for the dialog with the institutions. It will run between 1994 and 1997 (followed by the Social Inclusion Group and lately by the European Union Inclusion...
1995
Social Platform’s creation: Social Platform was established in 1995 and brings together around forty European non-governmental organisations, federations and networks which are working to build an inclusive society and promote the social dimension of the European Union. The creation of the Platform was not without some conflicts within the NGO...
1996
European court blocks the 4th EU Anti-Poverty Programme: The final decision of not having a 4th European anti-poverty programme came only in 1996. Despite the efforts made to keep the social area and the fight against poverty to stand on the top of the agenda, namely by the EC and...
1997
Establishment of the EAPN Structural Funds Task Force: This working group meeting 3 times a year followed an area crucial for the fight against poverty will run between 1997 and 2012. It was responsible for several publications, namely important tool-kits for helping the members to engage in the discussions around...
1998
Sweden National Network joins EAPN 9th GA – Porto (Portugal): It is considered to be one of the most memorable GA’s of EAPN. The Portuguese network organised at the same time of the GA, a Seminar about Structural Funds, a projects exhibition and an Art Exhibition with fundraising purposes....
1999
Helsinki Conference calls for Social Inclusion Strategy: An important conference that prepared the road for the Lisbon Strategy (2000) to declare a strong focus on Social Inclusion. Introduction of a “Voluntary in-cash contribution” from the members: Following the non consideration from the EC of the in kind contributions, EAPN had...
2000
Election of the 5th President: Ludo Horemans (Belgium) and he will stay for three years (one mandate) as President (2000-2003). The mandates of the Bureau were enlarged from two to three years from 2000 on. 11th GA – Barcelona (Spain): “Participation: an essential part of fighting social exclusion.” This was...
