Press release: Everyone deserves a decent life: EAPN kicks off EU wide campaign for Adequate Minimum Income schemes!

The European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) launches today an EU wide campaign for Adequate Minimum Income schemes. 24 out of 27 Member States have minimum income schemes in place at this present time, but there are serious flaws with their accessibility and their adequacy. It is time to state clearly that adequate Minimum Income schemes are a fundamental prerequisite for an EU based on social justice and equal opportunities for all!

EAPN participates in Spring Alliance Event – Go Green, Be social

05/12/2013 – EAPN participated in this Spring Alliance event, to try to look at how to move towards a social and sustainable agenda, focussing on the specific elements of environmental taxes and the social implications. The event was supported by the King Baudouin Foundation, hosted by Pervenche Beres, and included discussion on an independent report developed for the Alliance “ Environmental Taxes and Equity concerns”.

EESC opinion on minimum income and poverty indicators approved!

10/12 – the EESC opinion on minimum income and poverty indicators, an own initiative report (SOC/482) promoted by Mr Dassis (Workers Group II/Greece) with co-rapporteur Mr Boland (Various interests – GR III/Ireland was approved in the plenary session. EAPN has been actively involved in providing input to the opinion, in two hearings and by written input, with EAPN Ireland providing specific input to the co-rapporteur. The opinion was presented by the EESC in the EMIN event in Paris on 09/10. The opinion includes a call for ‘’a European framework directive that would extend minimum income schemes to all Member States, improve the adequacy of existing schemes, taking into account national contexts’.. the proposed directive should ‘ set common standards and indicators’ and to examine the funding possibilities for a European Minimum Income in particular setting up an appropriate European Fund“. It builds on the demand made by Committee of the Regions opinion on the European Platform Against Poverty, based on input from EAPN.