European Policy Centre discusses the refugee crisis

On 1st of October 2015 the European Policy Centre hosted a Policy Dialogue on the European response(s) to the refugee, migrant and humanitarian crisis: Will the EU and Member States succeed? The speakers called for the EU-coordinated approach in facing the high increase of refugees entering the EU, which could include more effective implementation of the Commission’s proposal for relocation and resettlement, the harmonization of the national asylum systems, the reorientation of the EU funds to the issue of migration, improving the EU monitoring of the flows of immigration, the cooperation between the EU and countries of emigration and, most importantly, facing the root causes for crisis in Syria.

AGE Platform Europe | Older persons’ rights should not be jeopardised by EU objectives on national fiscal consolidation and structural reforms!

22/09/2015 – The European Semester 2015 – the EU yearly cycle of economic policy coordination – has once more overlooked fundamental rights. AGE Platform Europe is deeply concerned that in the 2015 Country Specific Recommendations the social objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy have further receded to the background. Many reforms in social protection – in particular in pensions, health and long-term care – are now challenging older persons’ rights to participate in society, live independently and in dignity.

Social Platform | What would Europe for the common good look like?

28/09/2015 – On 30 September, the College of Commissioners will discuss what a new European social agenda should look like in practice. On 1st October, Pierre Baussand, Director of Social Platform, Barbara Helfferich, EAPN DIrector and other civil-society representatives will meet Marianne Thyssen, Commission for Employment, Social Affairs to discuss how to make Europe worthy of a social ‘triple A’ status.