08/03/2016 – the European Commission launched a public consultation on a European Pillar of Social Rights. EAPN welcomes an initiative that is rooted in a rights-based perspective. We hope that it can be an important step towards rebalancing the European Union agenda and giving social considerations, including the fight against poverty and social exclusion, their…
08/03/2016 – the European Commission launched a public consultation on a European Pillar of Social Rights. EAPN welcomes an initiative that is rooted in a rights-based perspective. We hope that it can be an important step towards rebalancing the European Union agenda and giving social considerations, including the fight against poverty and social exclusion, their due place in the European architecture. EAPN particularly welcomes commitments on a wide number of key topics, grouped under three main headings: Equal opportunities and access to the labour market (education and training, security of contracts, supporting transitions, work-life balance, gender equality and equal opportunities), Fair working conditions (employment rights, wages, health and safety, social dialogue), and Adequate and sustainable social protection (social benefits – minimum income, unemployment, health and sickness, disability, pensions; services – care, child-, health- and long-term care, housing, transport, energy, financial, communications). EAPN will work closely with its members over the coming months to prepare a full response to the consultation and the initiative.
On 1 March 2016 – (9.30-12.30), Sergio Gutierrez Prieto (S&D) and Marian Harkin (ALDE), with the EU Alliance for a democratic, social and sustainable European Semester, hosted a very well-attended hearing The AGS behind, the Semester ahead, what proposals to make Europe 2020 more social, democratic and sustainable? in the European Parliament. The Alliance presented…
11/02/2016 – From June 2015 onwards, a considerable number of EU-based Civil Society Organisations from the sustainability, development, environment and social sectors have been meeting to consider in which way we can contribute to the implementation, monitoring and follow-up of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, both in Europe and beyond.
14/01/2016 – EAPN responded to DG Energy’s Vulnerable consumer’s group questionnaire on Energy Poverty building on the contributions from EAPN members who are part of the EAPN Energy Poverty cluster. The questionnaire focuses on three key energy poverty related issues: The concept of energy poverty, Indicators to measure energy povertyand Measures to tackle energy poverty.
On 1 March 2016 – (9.30-12.30), Sergio Gutierrez Prieto (S&D) and Marian Harkin (ALDE), with the EU Alliance for a democratic, social and sustainable European Semester, hosted a very well-attended hearing The AGS behind, the Semester ahead, what proposals to make Europe 2020 more social, democratic and sustainable? in the European Parliament. The Alliance presented its proposals on the AGS 2016 and its report on the Country-specific Recommendations with concrete key messages.
29/01/2016 – EAPN attended a stakeholder dialogue meeting organised by DG Employment on the topic of the Youth Guarantee, the Youth Employment Initiative, and the European Alliance for Apprenticeships. The European Commission provided an update of the state of play and next steps, and discussants from the European Youth Forum and Eurocities presented the civil society and local authorities perspective. In the ensuing debate, EAPN made important points about the need for comprehensive youth inclusion strategies beyond employment, which include adequate income support, access to services (particularly housing), personalised, pathway support towards quality and sustainable employment, as well as full ownership by young people of their inclusion strategies, and meaningful engagement of civil society organisations in the process. Without such a comprehensive approach, the initiatives will not reach vulnerable youth who are facing multiple obstacles, which would mean a creaming effect, leaving the most disenfranchised behind.
European Commission launches Employment and Social Developments in Europe Report 2015/2016 On 21/02/2016, EAPN attended the European Commission’s presentation of its annual Employment and Social Developments (ESDE) Report. The report takes stock of the latest employment and social trends in Europe, and reflects on upcoming challenges and possible policy responses. While it report highlights some…
14/01/2016 – EAPN responded to DG Energy’s Vulnerable consumer’s group questionnaire on Energy Poverty building on the contributions from EAPN members who are part of the EAPN Energy Poverty cluster. The questionnaire focuses on three key energy poverty related issues: The concept of energy poverty, Indicators to measure energy povertyand Measures to tackle energy poverty.…
On 8th January 2016, the EU Semester Alliance held a 2nd stakeholder dialogue meeting with key representatives from the EU institutions: Roy Dickinson, Adviser to the Director on Policy, strategy and co-ordination, DG Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN, European Commission). The exchange with ECFIN focussed on 3 key issues: What could be done by…
