2013-NRP-report-cover

EAPN Assessment Critical of Europe 2020: Poverty and Inequality at an All Time high

EAPN Press releases

25 September 2013, Brussels – Today, the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) releases its new assessment of the 2013 National Reform Programmes (NRPs). The report not only shows widening social imbalances, but also gives recommendations on how to tackle them. The report is based on a questionnaire assessment from 19 EAPN National and EU Networks. It gives evidence that the EU is falling short on its promises on Social Europe, particularly on poverty, which has risen by 4 million in the last year, when the EU poverty reduction target is to reduce poverty by 20 million by 2020. It also outlines the worsening of the social impact of the crisis exacerbated by austerity measures, with unemployment, poverty and inequalities reaching untenably high levels. The conclusions and recommendations will be discussed at EAPN’s annual Conference on 30 September.

EAPN welcomes its new Director Barbara Helfferich

EAPN Press releases

29 August 2013, Brussels – Barbara Helfferich was appointed earlier this month as the new Director of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), the largest European network of national, regional and local networks, involving anti-poverty NGOs and grass-root groups as well as European Organisations active in the fight against poverty, social exclusion and inequalities. Replacing Fintan Farrell,Barbara comes to EAPN with a wealth of experience in the field of social policy, notably on social exclusion and anti-discrimination.

Housing and shelter insufficient for undocumented migrants in Europe

EAPN Press releases

BRUSSELS, 28 June, 2013 – On the occasion of its annual international conference in Brussels, the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) joined together with the European Federation of National Organisations working with the homeless (FEANTSA) and the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) to call on policymakers and local authorities in Europe to strengthen efforts to enforce the right to housing for undocumented migrants, despite economic constraints.

The European Council must launch a democratic debate to ensure an ambitious social dimension of the European Monetary Union (EMU)!

EAPN Press releases

Brussels, 26 June 2013 – EAPN has written to the Prime Ministers prior to their meeting on the 27-28 June, where a discussion will take place on the next steps for President Van Rompuy’s proposals for a social dimension of the EMU. EAPN sets out concrete proposals and calls for a democratic debate to ensure that the social dimension is not reduced to an instrument of economic policy but contributes to a vision for an EU based on social rights and solidarity.

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.

EU 2020: Civil Society Organisations call for transparent and real participation in the European semester

EAPN Press releases

{jathumbnail}At a Public Hearing today in the European Parliament, European Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have joined forces in an ad-hoc coalition to present country-specific recommendations for 2013 in the areas of employment, poverty, education, tax, environmental change and gender equality. Together, they call for a more balanced social, sustainable and equality-based Economic and Monetary Union, Europe 2020 Strategy and effective multi-stakeholder engagement in the whole European Semester process.

INVEST IN CHILDREN NOW!

EAPN Press releases

Leading human rights organisations meet in Dublin with Irish Presidency to strategise on action to move forward the fight against child poverty in the EU

Dublin, 10 April 2013 – One in four children in the European Union is at risk of poverty, or already experiencing it. That equals 25.3 million children.In the wake of the economic crisis and austerity measures poverty levels are escalating across the continent, particularly child poverty. A recent European Commission Recommendation calls on EU governments to “invest in children – to break the cycle of disadvantage”1.

Hungary-March2013-IPI

EAPN expresses its serious concerns regarding the tendencies threatening democracy, social inclusion and human rights in Hungary

EAPN Press releases

Brussels, 19 March 2013 – EAPN expresses its support to all Hungarian non-governmental initiatives mobilising to draw attention both inside and outside of the country on the new instruments recently integrated into the Fundamental Law, which replaced in 2011 the Constitution of Hungary. These instruments further threaten democracy, social inclusion and human rights in Hungary. EAPN calls on the European Union institutions and all other relevant international actors to put pressure on the Hungarian Government and the Hungarian Parliament to reconsider and withdraw these recent amendments and the ‘anti-poor’ policies that accompany them.