2022PEP | The Unbearable Cost of Living

The 2022 PeP Meeting took place on 29 and 30 November, at a crucial time as the turmoil facing Europe had worsened already existing social injustices and contributed to an unbearably high cost of living. Under the title ‘The unbearable cost of living’ the event brought together 175+ participants, including national delegations of people experiencing poverty from 30 countries, policymakers, and representatives of European non-governmental organisations working towards eliminating poverty. With a combination of plenary sessions and interactive workshops, the event was the last step in a one year long participatory process where EAPN members had the opportunity to speak up and present their political priorities in three key areas:

1. 1. Cost of Energy

   2. Cost of Food

   3. Cost of Housing.

As in previous years, the PEP Meeting was a unique opportunity for delegates to share their stories of hardship and hope with one another, and with EU decision-makers including:

• • Katarina Ivanković-Knežević, Director DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
  • Marie Toussaint, Group of the Greens/EFA & Vice-chair of the Intergroup on Fighting against Poverty
  • Milagros Paniagua, General Secretariat of Social Inclusion in the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Spain
  • Gabriele Bischoff, MEP, S&D group, member of EMPL Committee
  • Olivier de Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights
  • Isabelle Schömann, Confederal Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation
  • Maija Celmina, Member of Cabinet of Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President of the European Commission

ARTE France ran a short report using content from the PeP meeting. You can watch this report here.

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