Belgian Anti-poverty networks react to national authorities’ contradictions on poverty

EAPN National Networks News

21/03/2014 – The Belgian Anti-Poverty Network (BAPN) and the Flemish Anti-Poverty Network (Netwerk tegen Armoede) reacted to the declarations of Maggie De Block, Belgian Secretary of State for Social Inclusion and the Fight against Poverty, who reacted to the increase in poverty in Belgium (1/5 children in Belgium grows up in poverty, 1/3 in the Brussels Region) by the National Plan for the Fight against Child Poverty. One of the objectives of this Plan is to be readable and accessible for children themselves.However, BAPN and its Flemish regional network point out numerous counterproductive measures taken by the current federal government, clashing with their ‘well-intentioned’ objectives described in the National Plan for the Fight against Child Poverty, as these measures clearly contribute to aggravate poverty:

2013-PEP-group

Poverty is not an accident but the result of political choices

EAPN Press releases

Brussels, 21 June 2013 – The 12th European Meeting of People experiencing poverty was held from 18-20 June on the Esplanade of the European Parliament, with delegations from 26 European countries.

Mr Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament opened the Meeting: “I hope our MEPs show up and keep their promises. The promise of the EU was more social justice, more equality, more decent jobs. No surprise people doubt about democracy and justice in Europe. You are right, you must be loud, visible and audible. We are not ashamed of being poor, but of the existence of poverty“.

EAPN calls for greater coherence in EU policies to fight poverty

EAPN Press releases

EAPN has written to the Ministers for Social Affairs prior to their meeting1 next Thursday and Friday 20-21 June, where they will take key decisions on the Social Investment Package proposed by the European Commission and on the Country-Specific Recommendations, as part of the Europe 2020 Strategy. In its letter, EAPN presents proposals on how to use these major EU Instruments to ensure a stronger social dimension for the EU. EAPN’s letter also includes key messages on the social dimension of the European Monetary Union (EMU), as crucial decisions should be taken on that hot issue at the European Council of Heads of States on 27-28 June.

BAPN is campaigning with three manifestos for the federal (national) and European elections

EAPN National Networks News

On 25 May, Belgium will vote at European level but also at Belgian level (for the federal and regional Parliaments). Belgium and Europe need political decision makers who get formally committed for a more social Belgium and Europe, to stop impoverishing policies and take concrete and efficient actions to eradicate poverty in Belgium and Europe. The Belgian Anti-Poverty Network (BAPN) is campaigning with three manifestos for the federal (national) and European elections: