Let us work towards a social Europe which does not allow social exclusion! This was the call issued by the President of the EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, Mrs Marjeta Cotman, at the 7th European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty which was held on 16 and 17 May in Brussels.
The Slovenian Presidency together with EAPN has, with the support of the European Commission and the Belgian Ministry of Pensions and Social Integration, organised this annual meeting that gives people with experience of poverty an opportunity to present their views and establish a dialogue with European and national policy- and decision-makers.
“It is not politicians and academics that are the centre of interest but the people who are most familiar with their own problems. Each word and each opinion is important on the road to ensuring the maximum possible social inclusion,” said Council President Marjeta Cotman.
This year’s meeting, entitled ‘Four Pillars in the Fight against Poverty’, focused on four topics: social services, services of general interest, housing and minimum income, which constitutes four important fields in the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
It was attended by over 100 delegates with experience of poverty from the EU Member States and approximately the same number of representatives of national governments, the European Commission, European non-governmental organisations and social partners.
The report of the 7th European meeting of people experiencing poverty will be available in the coming months on the EAPN website.
Pictures of the meeting are already available here.
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