Economic progress needs social progress!

EAPN Press releases

Prime Ministers must back new social scoreboard and press for equal focus on social objectives in the EU’s economic policy coordination

Brussels, 16 December 2013 – The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), comprising thousands of organizations working in all Member States of the EU to eradicate poverty, is urging European Heads of state to take advantage of the new social scoreboard to identify negative macroeconomic policies which are generating increased poverty and inequality, ahead of their meeting on 19-20 December. In a letter to the General Affairs Council and the European Council, EAPN recalls there will be no economic without social progress and active participation of civil society.

President of EAPN meets President Van Rompuy at Annual Convention on Poverty and social exclusion

EAPN News

27/11/2013 – Sérgio Aires thanked President van Rompuy for making time available for the meeting, which involved 4 other members of EAPN. He introduced EAPN as a European-wide coalition of NGOs, founded in 1989 with the support of the Commission, and with the major objective to contribute to the fight against poverty. The EC and the EU recognized that good governance included the participation of civil society; it was recognized that without that fundamental participation it would be very difficult to implement the European Project. He added that with the creation of EAPN in 1989, there was recognition that EAPN was a major network.

EAPN President Sérgio Aires meeting with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso

EAPN News

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. 

Structural Funds 2014-2020: What room for social inclusion and the involvement of NGOs?

EAPN position papers and reports

16/12/2013 – This report assesses how the Partnership Principle is applied in the Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes, ie how social NGOs have been actively involved in their drafting of these programming documents, which are key tools for implementing the new Structural Funds (2014-2020). It also evaluates how social inclusion and the poverty-reduction target is…

2013-Structural-Funds-2014-2020-mapping-inclusion-participation-COVER

Structural Funds 2014-2020: What room for social inclusion and the involvement of NGOs?

EAPN position papers and reports

16/12/2013 – This report assesses how the Partnership Principle is applied in the Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes, ie how social NGOs have been actively involved in their drafting of these programming documents, which are key tools for implementing the new Structural Funds (2014-2020).

It also evaluates how social inclusion and the poverty-reduction target is effectively made a priority in these processes by the managing authorities at national and regional levels.

Turn the Tide on Rising Poverty

EAPN Press releases

Social Ministers must press for a genuine social and democratic Semester in 2014 to back a credible EU

Brussels, 09 December 2013 – The European Anti-poverty Network (EAPN), comprising thousands of organizations working in all Member States of the EU to eradicate poverty, expressed their disappointment with the Commission’s Annual Growth Survey package (AGS) in the context of spiraling poverty rates. EAPN’s letter addressed to Social Ministers prior to the EPSCO Council on 9-10 December called on social ministers to press for concrete changes to ensure a more social and participative/democratic Semester in 2014, if credibility in EU is to be restored in this crucial pre-election period.

2013-in-work-poverty-paper-cover

WORKING AND POOR: EAPN’s position paper on in-work poverty

EAPN position papers and reports

 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.

Ending Poverty is a Political Choice!

EAPN Press releases

EAPN releases its key messages to the 3rd Annual Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, calling on the EU and Member States to take concrete action to reach the agreed poverty target under Europe 2020, reviewed by a yearly Hearing with people experiencing poverty.

Brussels, 27 November 2013 – EAPN is one of the key stakeholders participating in the 3rdAnnual Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, one of the Flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy, taking place these 26-27 November 2013 in Brussels. On that occasion, EAPN recalls that the EU and Member States not only failed to reduce poverty despite their commitment to it, but on the contrary, contributed to the rise in poverty and inequalities through macroeconomic priorities and governance focused on austerity. For EAPN, this Annual Convention must get back to basics: Talk about the realities and the role of EU policies, discuss what policies are needed to ensure rapid progress to the target, and strive to put people experiencing poverty – their concerns and their solutions at the heart.

2013-in-work-poverty-paper-cover

WORKING AND POOR: EAPN launches position paper on in-work poverty at the Annual Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion

EAPN News

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.