Nine EAPN national networks have drawn up advance reports spelling out the policies implemented in Germany, Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Obviously, these contributions lay no claim to give the whole picture, but they do afford valuable voluntary sector insights into and thinking on recent developments in their countries.
Although necessarily a simplistic exercise, we thought it worthwhile to pick out the broad similarities and differences between the policies of these 9 countries. That perspective is essential to inform the implementation of a far-reaching European strategy on poverty and social exclusion under the new Article 137 of the Treaty on European Union.