EAPN members from the Globalisation Mainstreaming group and members from EAPN Sweden participated actively this year in the European Social Forum which took place from 17 to 21 September in Malmo.
In this document EAPN answers to the European Commission’s Communication on Reinforcing the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) which was included in the renewed social agenda package that the Commission presented on 2 July.
There is room for progress in the fight against poverty and social exclusion in the Revised Social Package the European Commission presented in July, but the fact that the proposals to address poverty lie buried in the overall package calls into question the political commitment there is to make progress on these essential issues.
Brussels, 16 September 2008 – According to EAPN, there is room for progress in the fight against poverty and social exclusion in the Revised Social Package, but the fact that the proposals to address poverty lie buried in the overall package calls into question the political commitment there is to make progress on these essential issues.
The seminar had two purposes: to promote and illustrate EAPN’s vision of Active Inclusion to policy makers and to build capacity within the network regarding Active Inclusion. Participants included members of EAPN, the French EU Presidency, the European Commission and the ETUC.
This briefing aims at giving all EAPN members, whether involved in working groups activities or not, the main information and EAPN analysis concerning the new proposal on Active inclusion launched by the European Commission in 2006.
These guidelines are used by the Commission’s staff when assessing the economic, social and environmental impact of Commission’s proposals.
EAPN’s position also includes recommendations on how to strengthen structural funds’ contribution to the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
The briefing note reveals that the EAPN action as well as the MEP Anne Van Lancker (socialist, Be) report have had some impact: the version finally adopted by the Member States include some positive changes in the narrative part.
EAPN Sweden and the EAPN Globalization group from the Executive committee are co-organizing a seminar in this year’s European Social Forum which will take place between 17 and 21 September in Malmo (Sweden).