EAPN response to the Commission Communication to the Spring European Council
The Commission’s Communication to the European Spring Council has caused shock and dismay amongst social NGOs including EAPN.
EAPN President Sérgio Aires meeting with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso
27/11/2013 – On the occasion of the European Convention against Poverty, EAPN President Sérgio Aires met with President Barroso. Sérgio underlined the need for an integrated European Anti-Poverty Strategy stating that if finances and economy are EU businesses, poverty was also one – particularly when current economic choices contributed to it. He also proposed to launch a process, both at European and national level assuring an enlarged participation of stakeholders, particularly those facing themselves poverty and social exclusion, to develop such a EU integrated strategy to fight poverty. This, he said, would be the positive sign of political commitment we would like to see. President Barroso, whose speech at the Convention acknowledged the fact that the poverty target was way out of reach, responded outlining the structural and political difficulties to require member states to deliver on social targets.
CILAP (EAPN Italy): Conferences on minimum income
10 – 12 February, Rome – Promoted by CILAP EAPN Italia and other main actors, a two-day meeting on “Income, Common Good and Democracy” (www.cilap.eu) with a focus on adequate minimum income in a country where such scheme does not exist, was held in Teatro Valle Occupato.
EAPN response to the draft Joint Employment Report 2004-2005: Questions regarding the future of the European Employment Strategy
According to EAPN, the Draft Joint Employment Report 2004-2005 fails in some points to assess the effect of employment national policies on the interest of people experiencing poverty.
WORKING AND POOR: EAPN launches position paper on in-work poverty at the Annual Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion
In-work poverty means that some people are still experiencing poverty, despite holding a job. From 2010 to 2013, EAPN has closely monitored and mapped the situation in Member States, as well as the effect of different policy options towards solving the situation, or making it worse. The position paper aims to set out EAPN’s developing analysis of the issue of in-work poverty, and to contribute to the debate, highlighting the different situations across Europe, including the role of low pay, the structure and increased segmentation of the labour market, the role of benefit and taxation policies, and individual characteristics. Building on the extensive work done by EAPN members, key concerns are outlined, and the impact of various policies in different countries discussed, including the negative impact of the economic crisis and austerity measures. The paper brings the stories of the people themselves into the spotlight, and makes a plea for participation and democracy, as the foundation for formulating concrete proposals and ways forward on how to effectively combat in-work poverty. The role of the EU in fighting this growing phenomenon is clearly underlined.
EAPN UK: Launch of Snakes and ladders – Climbing out of Poverty – Date for your Diary!
Thanks to the inspirational work of ATD 4th World and Migrants Voice, The Unemployed Workers’ Centres in the UK have developed the idea of the Snakes and Ladders game to show how difficult it can be to climb out of poverty.
EAPN report – Reinforcing the EU Inclusion Strategy: Report of the Social Inclusion Conference, Luxembourg
Reinforcing the EU Inclusion Strategy was the ambitious aim set out by EAPN in organising a conference on the occasion of the Luxembourg presidency of the EU.
EAPN takes its Key Messages to the 3rd Annual Convention on Poverty and Social Exclusion!
The Third Annual Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, one of the Flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy, took place on 26-27 November 2013 in Brussels. Over 50 EAPN national members participated, as well as European Organisations members of EAPN. As in previous years, EAPN spoke in a number of settings during the Convention. EAPN was also active in workshops and side events.
FNARS (membre d’EAPN France)
- L’hébergement des exilés en France : droit et réalités
- Hébergement d’urgence : le rapport parlementaire qui confirme la crise
EAPN position paper – Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the EU Constitutional Treaty
In its analysis, EAPN judges the EU Constitutional Treaty in terms of whether it provides the legal and practical instruments, and shows the political intention, to eradicate poverty in the European Union and provide social rights and a voice to people experiencing poverty, social exclusion and discrimination.