In this report, EAPN puts forward its position on the draft regulations issued for the Structural Funds proposed for 2007 to 2013. Key issues affecting social inclusion are identified and highlighted.
The Commission’s Communication to the European Spring Council has caused shock and dismay amongst social NGOs including EAPN.
According to EAPN, the Draft Joint Employment Report 2004-2005 fails in some points to assess the effect of employment national policies on the interest of people experiencing poverty.
Reinforcing the EU Inclusion Strategy was the ambitious aim set out by EAPN in organising a conference on the occasion of the Luxembourg presidency of the EU.
In its analysis, EAPN judges the EU Constitutional Treaty in terms of whether it provides the legal and practical instruments, and shows the political intention, to eradicate poverty in the European Union and provide social rights and a voice to people experiencing poverty, social exclusion and discrimination.
EAPN welcomes the initiative of the Commission to restart concrete attempts to develop an economic migration policy.
The European Commission is currently preparing the ‘non-paper’ (working document) which will be the first document for discussion on the Strategic Guidelines for the Structural Funds for 2007-2013.
This response is based on an extensive consultation with the members of EAPN. It reflects the experience of engaging with the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) at National as well as at the European level.
The emphasis of the Community Strategic Guidelines is strongly on the ‘jobs and growth’ agenda. The European Anti-Poverty Network has warned many times that growth alone will not solve the problems of poverty and social exclusion in Europe.
The work done by EAPN in 2004 is outlined in this report. This report primarily reflects the European level work of EAPN but also gives some snapshots of the work at national level of the EAPN National Networks.