19/06 – European networks, including EAPN, together with UNICEF, urge Employment, Social Affairs and Health Ministers who meet in Luxembourg this week to act now and promote measures which lead to the reduction of child poverty and social exclusion in EU Member States.
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 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.
17/06 – EAPN has just released its Response to the Social Invesment Package adopted by the European Commission on 20 February 2013 and which sets out a ‘new’ framework for…
17/06 – EAPN has just released its Response to the Social Invesment Package adopted by the European Commission on 20 February 2013 and which sets out a ‘new’ framework for policy reforms. EAPN’s Response consists of a Summary of the possible impact the SIP can have; Key Messages; a full General Assessment of the main Communication, and a brief assessment of specific additional documents.
17/06 – Sven Giegold, (Green Party), MEP, will ask 2 Questions, on behalf of the Adhoc coalition on Country-Specific Recommendations involving EAPN and other NGOs/Organisations, in a Parliamentary Hearing in the European Parliament with Commission Ollie Rehn. The two questions focus on NGO consultation in the CSR process, and confirmation that the Country-specific Recommendations are an instrument to deliver on the Europe 2020 targets.
EAPN highlights major lack as democratic deficit and civil engagement
06/06 – Fintan Farrell, on behalf of EAPN, spoke at S&D Group hearing on social dimension of European Monetary Union on 6th June at the European Parliament in Brussels and presented EAPN’s 5 proposals. The event built on the position of Pervenche Beres, chair of the Employment Committee, and included interventions from Commissioner Andor, Bernadette Segol, ETUC; the ILO and EESC, and other stakeholders including EAPN.
On behalf of the NGO coalition gathering Caritas Europa, Eurodiaconia, EAPN, FEANTSA and Red Cross – EU Office and in view of the plenary vote on June 10, EAPN sent today to all MEPs a joint letter urging all the MEPs to adopt the EMPL committee Report on the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD).
On 07-08 June, EAPN took a very active part in the Alter Summit, which is a pan-European initiative, bringing together a wide range of major actors from different organizations, committed to a better, more democratic and more equal Europe, that puts people before profit.
{jathumbnail}From 18 till 20 June, on the Esplanade in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, EAPN held the 12th Meeting of People experiencing poverty on “What we can learn from the experiences of poverty today”. Gathering delegations of people experiencing poverty and activists from all the EU countries, this meeting was also an significant event in the calendar of the 2013 European Year of the Citizen. The event was open to the public.