EAPN publishes Widening the Gap – EAPN Assessment of the National Reform Programmes 2013

The report aims to provide a synthesis of EAPN National and European Organizations members’ assessment of the 2013 NRPs and how far the NRPs are delivering on the social targets (particularly the poverty target, but also the employment and education targets) and engaging stakeholders in a meaningful dialogue. It draws together the quantitative and qualitative conclusions from an on-line questionnaire received from members and supported with additional material drawn from an interactive EAPN workshop which took place on the 10^th May in Brussels, as part of the EAPN EU Inclusion Strategies Group. Finally it provides EAPN’s key messages and recommendations and proposals for Europe 2020. The report also aims to provide a snapshot of members’ views and concerns as well as examples (good and bad) and testimonies of the reality on the ground in contrast to the official NRP version, before analyzing common concerns and key messages.

Direct written inputs were received from 19 members. 13 national networks took part in the on-line Survey: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. 2 networks provided written input to the questionnaire: Austria and the Netherlands. Input was also received from 2 European Organisations: Feantsa and Eurochild, from their own assessments. 2 national networks from candidate countries provided benchmarking examples (Serbia and Iceland). Inputs have also been drawn from 25 national networks representatives who participated in a national exchange workshop reviewing the NRPs which took place on the 10^th May in Brussels, as part of the EAPN EU Inclusion Strategies Working Group.

Graciela Malgesini, from EAPN Spain, developed the on-line questionnaire and wrote the initial draft report. This was finalized by the EAPN Policy Team, together with input from the members of the EAPN EU Inclusion Strategies Group.

EAPN 5 recommendations are:

1. Develop a Social Pact and Social Governance in the European Semester.
2. Immediate action to restrict austerity and promote social investment.
3. Integrated multi-dimensional strategy to fight poverty, based on access to rights, resources and services.
4. Targeted use of EU funds to reduce poverty and exclusion and support community-led and grass-root initiatives.
5. Radical reform of the Semester process, based on democratic and participative engagement and accountability.

The main messages in the Report will be presented during the Plenary Debate in the EAPN Workshop on Europe 2020, next 30^th September.

For more information contact Sian Jones, Policy Coordinator sian.jones@eapn.eu

Access the Report in English.