On 11–12 December 2025, EAPN will hold the 23rd PEP Annual Meeting in Brussels, bringing together people experiencing poverty (PEP) from across Europe. This edition consolidates and closes a year-long series of meetings and consultations focused on the upcoming EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.
The PEP Meeting is a key moment for driving political development and policy change, connecting people experiencing poverty from EAPN national members to discuss the challenges and advances in the fight against poverty. In this edition, participants will also have the chance to engage with political stakeholders, European institutions, civil society organisations, and foundations.
EAPN continues to strengthen meaningful participation of people experiencing poverty at all levels of governance — local, national, and EU. This year’s agenda reflects this focus, offering capacity-building workshops designed to equip participants with the skills, confidence, and tools to engage meaningfully, influence decision-making, and participate safely and effectively throughout the advocacy cycle. Workshops will cover communication, advocacy, inclusion, participation, fundraising, and more.
This year’s meeting follows two major milestones: the High-Level European Commission Consultation on Poverty held on 18 September 2025 in Porto, and the First EU Anti-Poverty Day held on 5 November at the European Parliament. The PEP Meeting aims to consolidate the outcomes of both events, providing a dedicated space for exchange and for amplifying the voices, experiences, expertise and proposals of people experiencing poverty — voices that drive change within political spaces.
At the heart of EAPN’s mission is the belief that the fight against poverty is also a fight to empower people living in poverty and social exclusion. Meaningful participation is not just a principle, it is a key driver for eradicating poverty.
Stay tuned to learn more about the PEP Meeting.
