09/10/2015 – Labour markets and social indicators in the EU continue to gradually improve, benefitting from the strengthening in economic activity, according to the latest edition of the Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review.
EAPN releases report on Troika (EC, IMF, ECB/WB) arrangements and their catastrophic impact on poverty and social exclusion
17/01/2014 – In the aftermath of the economic and financial crisis, several countries in Europe have found themselves locked out of borrowing on international markets, and thus obliged to accept emergency financial assistance from a Troika of external institutions – the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund, and the European central Bank (for Eurozone countries) / the World Bank (non-Eurozone countries). This report, complemented by online thematic and country annexes, gives a comprehensive view on the Troika arrangements and on their impact on poverty on poverty and social exclusion.
EAPN gives its take on emerging employment policies that make not just the unemployed, but workers too, more vulnerable.
30/09/2015 – 62 per cent of the employment growth before the crisis was due to increased female labour force participation (EU27: 2000-2008). However, there is still plenty of unused work and human capital potential among women. Work is a determining factor of gender equality and women’s economic independence, but also important for the entire economy. An OECD study shows that halving the gender gap in employment could lead to an additional gain of 6 per cent in the GDP by 2030.
16/12/2013 – This report assesses how the Partnership Principle is applied in the Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes, ie how social NGOs have been actively involved in their drafting of these programming documents, which are key tools for implementing the new Structural Funds (2014-2020).
It also evaluates how social inclusion and the poverty-reduction target is effectively made a priority in these processes by the managing authorities at national and regional levels.
The legislative framework for the reform of cohesion policy for 2007-2013, aimed at reducing the “wealth gap” in an enlarged EU, presents few surprises and raises both concerns and hopes for NGOs.
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”.