European elections 2014: Civil society and candidate MEPs commit to a Citizens’ Europe

Joining forces to mobilise EU citizens for the upcoming European elections 2014

Brussels, 18 March 2014 – European Parliament elections are the periodical momentum to test both politicians’ and citizens’ engagement and capacity to debate on how best shape our societies and improve European integration for the benefit of all. In the light of the democratic crisis and growing mistrust towards the European Union, it is of utmost importance to mobilise EU citizens to go to vote in May, said panellists from AGE, COFACE, ILGA Europe, EWL, ENAR, EDF, EAPN, AEGEE and Eurochild during a joint event on 18 March at the European Parliament hosted by Claude Moraes (MEP, S&D, UK).

A story that millions of Europeans would want to hear

Millions of Europeans should know that it is possible that EU Member States could cooperate, through a European Directive, to ensure the progressive realization of adequate Minimum Income Schemes in every EU country.

Brussels, 19 March 2014 – Yesterday, the European Minimum Income Network (EMIN) a two-year project led by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), presented its first results on how to ensure adequate minimum income schemes in all EU Member States, at an event in the European Parliament organised by MEPs, Frédéric Daerden and Pervenche Berès from the Socialists and Democrats Group.  Millions of Europeans should know that it is possible that EU Member States could cooperate, through a European Directive, to ensure the progressive realization of adequate Minimum Income Schemes in every EU country.  The EMIN project shows growing support for such a directive.

EU’s 5 next years: EU leaders can choose progress

Half-way through the Europe 2020 Strategy, in a context of failure due to macroeconomic priorities and austerity measures, EAPN calls on Member States to deliver on social targets through Country-Specific Recommendations for 2014 and to make sure that a real consultation on the Mid-Term Review takes place to finally shift to coherence, inclusion, sustainability and participation for the 2nd half of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

17 March 2014, Brussels – The European Anti-Poverty Network addressed last Thursday 13 March a letter to the EU Prime Ministers and Heads of State, ahead of their General Affairs Council meeting tomorrow and Spring Council next 20-21 March, where they will review the progress made on the European Semester for 2014 including the up-coming Recommendations (CSRs) and debate the Commission’s proposals on the Mid-Term Review of the Europe 2020 Strategy. In its Letter, EAPN calls on EU leaders to ensure coherence between social and economic policies, with coherent country-specific recommendations capable of delivering on the Europe 2020 targets for 2014, notably on poverty, and to launch a concrete participative consultation of the Europe 2020 Strategy Mid-Term Review, involving civil-society actors taking place in 2014-15.

The EU must push Member States to show progress on poverty!

EAPN launches its proposals for Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRs) for 2014

Brussels, 10 March 2013 – The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN), presents today its proposals for CSRs for 2014, based on its national and European-organization members’ assessment. This comes in the week following the European Commission’s launch of the Communication[1] in preparation for the Mid-Term Review of the Europe 2020 Strategy (2010-2020). EAPN’s synthesis report provides an overview of members’ findings on the social impact of the 2013 CSRs, i.e. Recommendations of the European Commission to member States and their implementation, and proposes positive recommendations for the different Member States. The Report highlights the urgent need for the European Semester to deliver results on the Europe 2020 targets if it is to maintain any credibility, within the context of spiraling poverty levels across Europe, recognized by the Commission’s Communication.

Electing CHAMPIONS for a Social Europe: A Call for Commitment

EAPN launches its campaign around the European elections to get candidates commitment to the fight against poverty, social exclusion and inequalities and encourage voters to get heard

Brussels, 04/03/2014 – Today, the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) launches its European-wide campaign Elections for a Social Europe, ahead of the European Elections next 22-25 May, mobilizing hundreds of European, national and local organizations, calling on the candidates to the elections to commit to make the fight against poverty, social exclusion and inequalities a priority item on the European agenda, and on people… to vote! Several MEPs have committed to and signed EAPN’s pledge. The campaign launch coincided with a press briefing this morning gathering MEPs, European and Belgian media and civil-society organizations.

Civil society organisations welcome the new FEAD

Brussels, 26 February 2014 – Civil society organisations welcome the European Parliament’s approval of the new Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) yesterday, 25th February. This approval clearly shows that the European Union is committed to social cohesion and the fight against poverty. However, there still is much to do before the promised help reaches the most vulnerable.

European networks unite for Europe’s Children

EAPN cosigns press release on the Anniversary of the ‘Investing in Children Recommendation’ and Launch of the Alliance for Investing in Children

20/02/2014 – A year ago today the European Commission adopted the Recommendation Investing in Children – Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage, which called for concerted efforts across Europe to end child poverty and promote child well-being. The European Commission’s approach, which places children’s rights, the best interests of the child, equal opportunities and support for the most disadvantaged at the centre of efforts to combat child poverty was particularly welcome.However, the situation for children across Europe is getting worse.

Economic progress needs social progress!

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.

Turn the Tide on Rising Poverty

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.

Ending Poverty is a Political Choice!

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.