04/03/2015- EAPN Europe is part of a Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors partnering at the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council and taking part on a side event named ‘Social Protection Floors and Human Rights’ this month in Geneva. Social protection floors can help better realisation of social, economic and cultural rights. The side event at the UN Human Rights Council aims at raising awareness on social security as a human right.
03/02/2015 – EuroHealthNet held a conference co-hosted by Julie Ward MEP (S&D, UK) and Eider Gardiazabal Rubial (S&D, ES) as part of DRIVERS for Health Equity to present its policy recommendations for improving health equity and to build support for taking them forward. As noted by Julie Ward MEP, “concern about global health challenges should not obscure the fact that serious differences in health exist between social groups in Europe”. EAPN participates as a partner of the Drivers’ Project.
29/01/2015 – the last issue of the DRIVERS Project Newsletter is dedicated to the many case studies that were carried out across Europe as part of the project. The purpose in conducting these studies was to identify existing services, policies or practices that have the potential to reduce inequalities in health and improve social determinants, highlight aspects of adverse conditions in modern Europe and illustrate advocacy for health equity.
04/02/2015 – Sian Jones, from EAPN spoke today at the EP Carer’s interest group meeting: Carers and EU action in the field of social exclusion. The group was hosted by a cross-party group of MEPs including Marian Harkin, Jean Lambert, Sirpa Pietikainen and Heinz Becker and coordinated by Eurocarers, the European Association for carers.
03/02/2015 – DRIVERS will present its findings and recommendations at the European Parliament today. The event titled ‘Tackling societal challenges: solutions from DRIVERS for Health Equity’ will provide an opportunity to learn about the research findings and overarching principles for policy and practice that help reduce health inequalities across the life course, and debate with Members of the European Parliament and policy makers on how to incorporate the recommendations from DRIVERS in existing, emerging and future policy initiatives. EAPN will participate as a partner of the Drivers’ Project.
05-07/02 – EAPN EU Inclusion Strategies Group meets in Rome this week, involving experts from EAPN’s 31 national networks and European Organisations. The main focus of the meeting will be an assessment of the European Semester and Europe 2020, from the perspective of EAPN members trying to engage at national and EU level. The Working Group will be preceded by an important Seminar organized by CILAP/EAPN Italy Let’s not leave them behind – Early school leaving, poverty and social exclusion.
29/01/2015 – EAPN actively participated in the Annual Seminar launching the Commission’s 2015 Employment and Social Development report, where EAPN highlighted concerns about the lower focus on poverty and assumptions about trickle-down effect from Growth and Jobs as the main strategy.
02 February 2015 – Today, the EU Alliance for a democratic, social and sustainable European Semester or (EU Semester Alliance) releases A Beating Heart for a Better Europe. This video highlights the main activities, benefits and learning of the EU Semester Alliance, particularly incorporating the views of the national level and external stakeholders.
21/01/2015 – Sérgio Aires, president of EAPN, together with other Bureau members met with Commission President Juncker’s cabinet as well as the Stefaan Hermans, Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Thyssen, who is also responsible for social policy. These meetings served to introduce EAPN’s work to the new Commission as well to establish good working contacts. EAPN was well received by both cabinets who themselves had been working in the social field in previous years. In particular, Luc Tholoniat of Juncker’s cabinet had been closely involved in developing the Open Method of Co-ordination in early 2000.
15/01/2015 – More than 70 participants, including EAPN, took part in the Civil Society Alliance launch event of the 2015 European Year from Development #EYD2015 in Brussels. The event also launched the Action/2015 campaign calling on local and world leaders to take urgent action to fight, with concrete measures, for a just and sustainable world. The European Group of Action/2015 participated in the EYD2015 Alliance launch too and with CONCORD organized a photo op in front of the European Parliament.