EAPN sent its letter to the Prime Ministers, in advance of the Spring Council Meeting on the 19/20 March, urging them to take effective short-term measures to limit the immediate impact on people in poverty whilst making social investments for the future. According to EAPN, Social cohesion should also be the main focus of the upcoming Jobs Summit in May.
Today EAPN sent its letter to the Prime Ministers, in advance of the Spring Council Meeting on the 19/20 March, highlighting EAPN members’ concerns on the social impact of the current crisis, for those in and outside work. They highlighted the need to take effective short-term measures which limit the immediate impact on people in poverty whilst making social investments for the future.
These short-term measures must be linked to an open debate about longer term proposals on post 2010, learning from the failures of the “Growth and Jobs” Strategy to deliver inclusion even in times of boom. They must ensure the debate lead to a more cohesive, socially inclusive and sustainable EU – capable of meeting its goals to eradicate poverty and social exclusion.
EAPN has drawn particular attention to the need to ensure that the proposed May Jobs Summit moves beyond a narrow employment focus to become an Employment and Social Cohesion Summit. This should propose concrete solutions for reducing the social impact, by strengthening social protection and increasing social investment, as well as defending quality jobs.
EAPN also urges the Council to ensure that NGOs and people experiencing poverty are actively engaged as stakeholders in the Summit and in the preparatory workshops.
Read EAPN’s letter. For more information, contact Sian.Jones@eapn.eu.
