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EAPN’s Assessment of the National Reform Programmes 2014

8/10/2014 – This year marks the last round of National Reform Programmes (NRPs) before the Mid-Term Review of the Europe 2020 strategy in 2015. Whilst some signs of recovery have been seen in some countries, Europe’s social crisis continues to worsen, as a result of rising unemployment and continuing austerity policies.

In this context, EAPN members have continued to try to engage in the Semester and Europe 2020 process at national and EU level, with the hope that increased engagement could help to bring real progress on effective policies to meet the poverty target. EAPN’s report From Austerity to Inclusive Growth – what progress? builds on the 2013 NRP Assessment: Widening the Gap and EAPN member’s assessment and proposals for Country-specific Recommendations for 2014.

FNARS: Long-term unemployment declared “national issue” – a strong step forward, to turn into real action

09/07/2014 – The 3rd Social conference on employment took place in Paris with President F. Hollande Paris taking on board FNARS and Collectif Alerte joint proposals, which both organisations welcome. Declaring that long-term unemployment is a major national issue and priority to tackle, the President also called on everyone and particularly social partners to mobilise against what affects today over 2 million people in France. However, the most important is to witness the implementation of concrete and adapted proposals that respond best and as fast as possible to the needs of millions of people experiencing hardship.

EU leaders give signs of hope

EAPN General Assembly welcomes European Council’s new Strategic Agenda Brussels, 01 July 2014 – The European Anti-Poverty Network held its 2014 General Assembly in Tallinn, Estonia, on 27-28 June 2014.. The General Assembly welcomed the seemingly positive shift of the European Council’s new Strategic Agenda endorsed on 27 June regarding social issues, which reflects several EAPN’s concerns and key messages over the last years. In its final Declaration, EAPN’s General Assembly addressed the new Members of the European Parliament, recalling the achievements of the previous European Parliament and highlighting the priorities at stake, with the Mid-Term Review of the) – Europe 2020 Strategy, coming up in 2015 which has so far failed to deliver on its promises and highlighting EAPN’s current preparation of its own position. EAPN also endorsed the membership of two new networks in Croatia and Latvia raising the number of member networks to a total of 32.