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EAPN’s initial response to Annual Growth Survey | More social investment but where are social rights and standards?

Brussels, 30 November 2015 – As the European Commission finally adopted the Annual Growth Survey package (AGS 2016) last Thursday, Commissioner Thyssen promised to put “social fairness at the heart of our economic recovery. Member States need to overcome bottlenecks to job creation, improve the way labour markets work and make sure everybody in Europe can enjoy a decent level of social protection if we want to achieve more convergence.” However, the evidence of this new approach is not so clear, nor does the package contain any mention of the promised Social Pillar on rights and social standards.

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#2015PEP | The sooner we start, the easier we will find solutions

30 national delegations of people experiencing poverty exchange with EU policy makers on need for more social coherence in the EU

Brussels, 19-20 November 2015 – Delegations of people experiencing poverty from 30 European countries have come to exchange for two days (19-20 November) with EU officials and other policy makers with the aim to input on policies that affect them with the hope of building greater social convergence in the European Union.

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EAPN urges the EU to put people first or Europe will wither without strong social dimension | #2015EAPN Annual Conference

EAPN’s Annual Policy Conference, opened by President Martin Schulz and closed by Commissioner Marianne Thyssen, built on Assessment of the 2015 National Reform Programmes giving evidence that poverty and participation must be put at the heart of the European Semester

Brussels, 12 October 2015 – Last Friday 09 October, the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) held its Annual Conference in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), building and debating on EAPN’s Assessment of the 2015 National Reform Programmes (NRPs) and European Semester. The report gives exhaustive evidence that reducing poverty and promoting effective participation must be put at the heart of the European Semester, if the EU is to respect its Europe 2020 commitments regarding poverty and participation and restore the social dimension of the EU.

EU Leaders Appear Blind to the Political, Economic and Humanitarian Crises: The Greek Vote is a Wake-Up Call!

EAPN’s 2015 Strategic Congress and General Assembly took firm stand against EU policies on social crisis, migration and Greece

Brussels, 7 July 2015 – More than 150 delegates of the European Anti-Poverty Network, representing 31 National Networks and 18 European Organizations, took the opportunity of EAPN’s Strategic Congress and General Assembly to address a final declaration to the EU Heads of States and Governments.

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EAPN urges EU to tackle root causes of migration

EAPN calls on the Heads of States to stop squabbling over migration and act now in line with our principles of solidarity and human rights

Brussels, 25 June 2015 – As Heads of States prepare their discussion for the meeting of the Council of the European Union next 25-26 June, thousands of migrants set off for the perilous journey to Europe risking their lives to find safety here. In the context of this humanitarian crisis which is unfolding every single day EAPN urges the EU and its Member States to live up to the principles on which the EU is built: human rights, solidarity and respect for democracy.

Will EPSCO Council press for policy coherence on Social Europe?

EAPN highlights major contradictions between commitments and policies on poverty

Brussels, 12/06/2015 – EAPN calls on the Ministers of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs meeting next week to press for delivery on Commissioners Thyssen and Dombrovskis’ announced priorities for EU social policy, which seriously contradict the current approach within the European Semester.

EAPN deeply worried about Commission’s country-specific recommendations CSRs and calls on the Commission to immediately issue a specific set of recommendations to fight poverty in ALL Member States

Brussels, 15 May 2015 – The European Anti-Poverty Network reacted sharply to the Commission’s proposals for country-specific recommendations, which were published on the 13th of May. “The new recommendations may be closely aligned with President Juncker’s key priorities in the Annual Growth Survey: boosting investment, structural reforms and responsible fiscal policies, but they offer little in the way of a vision to turn the tide for the more than 120 million people in poverty in Europe,” said Sérgio Aires, President of EAPN. EAPN is very concerned about the increasing invisibility of Europe 2020 Strategy together with its commitments to promote smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and to deliver on the targets – particularly to reduce poverty by at least 20 million by 2020.

New momentum for action on Adequate Minimum Income Schemes

Brussels, 11 December 2014 – Delegates at the EU-level Conference held in Brussels today on ‘Minimum Income Schemes in Europe’ heard a very different story to the populist story of lazy people who cheat the welfare system. The figures given at the Conference on the non-take-up of minimum income assistance ranging from 20% to as much as 75%, are way and above those of over-take-up that receives much more policy and media attention.

Annual Growth Survey 2015: A Fatal Blow to the 124 million living in poverty!

Brussels, 01/12/2014 – On the 28 November the European Commission endorsed the 2015 Annual Growth Survey package. This new AGS sets out the new Commission’s 3 priorities for the coming cycle: A coordinated boost to investment, a renewed commitment to structural reforms and pursuing fiscal responsibility. This new agenda is an attempt to temper the austerity drive with a boost for growth – but it gives no clear signs of how this will be made inclusive or deliver on poverty. EAPN will be considering the package and its impact on poverty over the next days with its members.

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Participation is Key to Progress on Poverty Eradication

European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) attends Annual Convention of the European platform against poverty and social exclusion with high expectations on how to overcome the past failures and finally progress on poverty eradication, with participation at the core of EU decision-making processes.

Brussels, 20 November 2014 – 38 delegates of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) from all over Europe are taking part in the Annual Convention of the European platform against poverty and social exclusion held 20-21 November 2014 in Brussels to press for the rights of people experiencing poverty and to help shape the next 5 years of EU policies with a view to eradicating poverty. EAPN goes to the Convention with a set of 3 key messages, calling on EU to put the voice of people experiencing poverty at the heart of a Social Europe 2020 and to use EU funds to invest in quality jobs, services and social protection.