On 9 May, we celebrated the European Union and its values of respect for human dignity and human rights, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law. We hope that in the aftermath of the Covid crisis, those values will be consolidated even stronger and we will evolve towards a more social and equal society, free of poverty.
Several EAPN members also celebrated this day. EAPN France called for a Europe of solidarity and made several recommendations to make sure that a Europe of solidarity will be achieved:
The #ForSolidEurope commitment must go through:
- The implementation of the “social progress” protocol on the relationship between economic freedoms and fundamental social rights as defined by the European Trade Union Confederation.
- Effective access to fundamental rights everywhere and for everyone, with the concrete application of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the establishment of coercive mechanisms against Member States which do not respect these rights.
- A dignified and united European reception policy, respectful of individuals and their rights, which means that more resources must be mobilized to welcome and support them.
- A priority given to social cohesion and ecological transition to go beyond the logic of the market alone and thus put an end to austerity policies, incompatible with a model of sustainable society.
- Significant political and budgetary mobilization in support of the ongoing discussions on the 2021/2027 multiannual budget for social inclusion, in particular via European structural funds, by facilitating the access of associations to this funding.