05/10/2015 – Europe’s pension systems can be expected to deliver adequate pensions also to future generations of retirees provided Member States pursue strong policies to enable as many workers as possible to stay in jobs until they reach the statutory pension age, a new report on pension adequacy shows.
In-work poverty means that some people are still experiencing poverty, despite holding a job. From 2010 to 2013, EAPN has closely monitored and mapped the situation in Member States, as well as the effect of different policy options towards solving the situation, or making it worse. The position paper aims to set out EAPN’s developing analysis of the issue of in-work poverty, and to contribute to the debate, highlighting the different situations across Europe, including the role of low pay, the structure and increased segmentation of the labour market, the role of benefit and taxation policies, and individual characteristics. Building on the extensive work done by EAPN members, key concerns are outlined, and the impact of various policies in different countries discussed, including the negative impact of the economic crisis and austerity measures.
While nowhere near dead in the water, the European Social Inclusion Strategy is severely lacking political leadership. It can be kick-started again, but there is no time to lose!
16/10/2015 – The October 2015 edition of the EPC Policy Update specifically prepared for organisations engaged in EPIM (European Programme for Intergration and Migration) is now available online. This edition’s special focus is dedicated to analysing the legislative, political and humanitarian developments that have recently taken place concerning the EU’s so-called “refugee crisis”.
What is the EU that EAPN wants? It is a Europe that will link social and economic development, promote participatory democracy and fight against discrimination.
19/10/2015 – Housing Europe has just released a new guide to provide housing practitioners and policy makers with up-to date information and figures on the funding allocated to housing in each country. The publication includes and detailed country profiles as well as good examples, and provides the reader with a broader view of on how housing will be supported between 2014 and 2020.
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.
Gender equality remains more hope than reality in many respects. Despite some big steps forward, stereotypes and prejudices are hard to shift!
The sixteenth edition of Social policy in the European Union: state of play has a triple ambition. First, it provides easily accessible information to a wide audience about recent developments in both EU and domestic social policymaking. Second, the volume provides a more analytical reading, embedding the key developments of the year 2014 in the most recent academic discourses. Third, the forward-looking perspective of the book aims to provide stakeholders and policymakers with specific tools that allow them to discern new opportunities to influence policymaking.
EAPN continues to engage as active partners in Europe 2020 and the European Semester, at national and EU level, in order to make progress on the poverty and other social targets and the goals of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Its members have produced an analysis of the Country Specific Recommendations and their implementation, along with their own alternative recommendations.