05-06/12 – Fintan Farrell, Director of EAPN spoke in this important and timely conference organised by Commissioner Andor and the European Commission in Brussels on the 5th and 6th December. The conference focused on all aspects of the growing inequality gap and its role in undermining social inclusion and cohesion, as well as economic growth.
05/12 – In advance of the EU Council meeting on 8 and 9 December, EAPN has sent a letter to EU Prime Ministers outlining their proposals for a way out of the crisis which prioritises solidarity and an inclusive Europe 2020 Strategy.
Ludo Horemans, President of EAPN, participated in the Colloquium organised by the International Observatory on energy and water precariousness of GDF-Suez on the 13th of December in Paris.
The Commission has published the new Annual Growth Survey for 2012, a month earlier than the original planning.
EAPN participated as expert stakeholder in the EU Peer Review on ex-ante Social Impact Assessment organized by the Belgian Government on the 17 and 18th of November in Brussels, providing particular input on increasing stakeholder engagement.
21/11 – Members of the Finish Federation for Social Welfare and Health (who helps to coordinate EAPN Finland) made this week a study visit to Brussels.
17-18/11 – EAPN Spain held its General Assembly and conference The Europe 2020 Strategy in the Autonomous Regions of Spain: Two milestones in fighting poverty and social exclusion 2015 and 2020 in Santiago de Compostela.
17-18/11 – In support of the initiatives ‘Youth on the Move’ and ‘European platform against poverty’, the European Commission organised an evidence-based and policy-oriented conference on ‘Youth and Social Inclusion’.
17-18/11 – The Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (The Tri-Partite Social Partners Body in Malta) invited Fintan Farrell, Director of EAPN to provide a training, on models of civil and social dialogue. It was an opportunity to develop a shared understanding among participants on the definition and role of civil dialogue as part of building participatory democracy.
16-17/11 – The conference took place in Southampton and was the final event of a 3-year interreg 1Va 2 project looking at strategies, partnerships and policies to tackle social exclusion in the Cities of Rotterdam, Ghent and Southampton.