2024 was a pivotal year for the European Anti-Poverty Network: a moment of reflection, resistance, and renewed commitment. Over three decades since our founding, the world around us has changed dramatically. Civil society organisations face shrinking spaces and funding, the welfare state and social services are under threat, and the most vulnerable are being politically weaponised. Yet EAPN stands firm on its mission: to fight for the eradication of poverty.
While reviewing our strategic planning for the next 4 years, we continued to push for deep change, challenging not only policies, but also how poverty is understood and addressed. This was an opportunity to consult and regroup with the entire network. One of the year’s most significant milestones was the announcement of the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, a long-overdue step that EAPN has been consistently advocating for since 1990. While the content and implementation of the strategy remain uncertain, this fight to centre poverty eradication at the core of the European project is well underway. It marked the focus of our second semester, while the first six months were dedicated to the European elections.