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EAPN
The European Anti-Poverty Network
EAPN
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Voices of Poverty

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Last Chance for Social Europe: Going forward together? | EAPN Statement

EAPN NewsFeatured

 The Commission’s high-profile conference on the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) took place on Monday involving over 600 participants, and a range of high-level speakers including President Juncker, Commissioner Thyssen, and the new President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani who gave his first speech there.

The conference appeared to be aimed at feeding back on the consultation on the EPSR and demonstrating unity amongst the Commission, European Parliament and Member States on the importance of the EPSR rather than an interactive dialogue with all actors, particularly civil society, on concrete proposals and ways forward.

There was a strong consensus on the importance of putting economic and social policy on a par, mainstreaming social rights through EU policy, particularly through a revised European Semester. EAPN welcomes the shared conviction that the EU should support upward convergence on social standards, particularly with regards to a minimum wage and a minimum income.

“I’ve always felt the social dimension wasn’t fleshed out. We need a social pillar. We need the EU to deliver on a minimum wage and minimum guaranteed income – people deserve dignity”. President Juncker, President of the European Commission.

Unfortunately, few concrete details were available on what we are to expect from the Pillar, beyond employment and benchmarking. EAPN’s demands – particularly for concrete measures on social standards, including an EU framework directive on Minimum Income; new funding initiatives to fight poverty and enhanced participation and democracy – were not adequately taken up.

Sérgio Aires, President of EAPN said: “Is the fact that 119 million people are living in poverty a good enough reason to create the indispensable political will to fight poverty and safeguard social cohesion and democracy? If Europe is indeed above all about shared values, namely peace and solidarity, let’s show this means something and act in that direction.”

Furthermore, the conference could have given a stronger voice to civil society. In many of the workshops, no space was given for any interventions from actors other than invited speakers or respondents. This sends a negative message about the importance of civil society, just at a time when support from organisations on the ground is so crucial, with the future of the EU itself under threat.

If the Commission is serious about “going forward together”, we need to see a move from rhetoric to concrete actions. Together.

See EAPN’s Position
See EAPN’s full response to the European Commission’s consultation
Videos, photos and presentations are available on the conference web page
January 25, 2017
Tags: Social Pillar
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EAPN

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Tel: +32.2.226.58.50
Fax: +32.2.226.58.69
EAPN Europe Staff

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This website has been produced with the financial support of the European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Commission.

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Designed by impactshaker
  • Who we are
    • What is EAPN?
    • Our members
    • Our structure
      • EAPN Europe Staff
      • Governing bodies
        • General Assembly (GA)
        • Executive Committee
        • Bureau
      • EU Inclusion Strategies Group
    • The way we are funded
    • Get involved
    • Contact us
  • What we do
    • How we work
    • Policy areas we focus on
      • Poverty & Fundamental Rights
      • Wealth & Inequalities
      • Employment
      • Access to Public Services
      • EU Funds
      • Participation of people experiencing poverty
      • Europe 2020 Strategy
      • The Future of Europe
    • Projects
    • Network Development
    • Campaigns & Alliances
      • Campaigns
      • Alliances & Structured dialogue
  • News & Publications
    • Press Room
      • EAPN Press releases
      • EAPN Clippings
      • National Networks Clippings
    • News
      • EAPN News
      • EAPN National Networks News
      • EU Institutions News
    • Publications
      • EAPN key documents
      • EAPN Position Papers & Reports
      • EAPN Policy toolkits & Briefings
      • EAPN Letters
      • EAPN Books
    • Upcoming Events
    • EAPN Photos & Videos
    • EU jargon explained
  • What is poverty ?
    • Introduction
    • Poverty : what is it?
    • How is poverty measured?
    • Facts & Trends
    • Inequality : what is it?
    • Causes of poverty and inequality
    • Sources of information
    • Voices from the ground
  • Members’ Room
EAPN