“EAPN is determined to engage strongly in the European elections. We believe there are candidates who genuinely want to fight for change, and that’s why we want to rally them around the commitment to pressure for a shift back to a European Union based on the respect for Human rights, including social rights, giving priority to fighting poverty, social exclusion and inequalities, restoring balance between societal and market needs. The EU was born to ensure peace, freedom and democracy and that’s where our focus should go back”, says Sérgio Aires, President of EAPN.
Through the Electing Champions for a Social Europe campaign, EAPN, its members and its supporters,will call on the candidates to commit themselves to make the fight against poverty, social exclusion and inequality a priority item on the Parliament and EU agenda. This commitment entails to defend the development of an explicit European anti-poverty strategy and an annual hearing of people experiencing poverty taking stock of the strategy’s implementation and progress; to pressure for a Social Pact; and to fight to restore democracy and civil-society participation in decision making processes.
“It’s high time to put people before markets and build a genuine social Europe. People living in Europe expect no less of their European representatives.” Added Barbara Helfferich, Director of EAPN.
2013 has seen a worsening of the social impact of the crisis by the austerity measures, particularly reflected in rising unemployment and poverty levels, with unemployment reaching 23.7% and poverty nearly 120 million1 i.e. 24%. Poverty has risen by 4 million in the last year, whereas the poverty-reduction target is to reduce poverty by 20 million by 2020. In parallel, the latest Eurobarometer showed a record of 60% of Europeans mistrusting the EU.
Electing Champions for a Social Europe is a pan-European campaign carried out by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) and its members (29 national networks and 18 European organisations) representing hundreds of organisations on the ground working with thousands of European citizens as well as other partners supporting a social Europe. The campaign will be launched this coming November 2013.
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For further information, Nellie Epinat (Communications officer)nellie.epinat@eapn.eu – (Tel. +32 2 226 58 56) – fax. +32 2 226 58 69) www.eapn.eu – team@eapn.eu – twitter: @EAPNEurope – Facebook: EAPN on Facebook
Notes to the editor:
EAPN 2013 ANNUAL CONFERENCE PART II
- See the webpage of the event here
- Programme
- Key confirmed speakers include:
- Representatives of the 5 major European political parties
- Csaba Öry, European People’s Party
- Emer Costello, Party of European Socialists
- Philippe Lamberts, European Green Party
- Sabine Terlecki, Head of policy, CONCORD (European NGO Confederation for relief and development)
- Maciej Kucharczyk, Managing Director, AGEPlatform Europe
- Mary Collins, Policy Officer, European Women’s Lobby
- Claire Roumet, Vice-president, Social Platform
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