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EAPN
The European Anti-Poverty Network
EAPN
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Voices of Poverty

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MAKE EUROPE POVERTY FREE | Nobody deserves less, everybody benefits!

EAPN NewsFeatured

Brussels, 17 October 2018 – On 17 October 2018, the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) calls on the EU to MAKE EUROPE POVERTY FREE!

In Brussels as well as in several other cities in Europe, the message “Nobody deserves less, everybody benefits” #EUPovertyFree was projected on big public buildings, the hashtag was used on Twitter together with an invitation for people to sign our petition for Guaranteed Minimum Income Schemes.

The fact that 118 million EU citizens (meaning 23.5 % of the EU population) are still living at risk of poverty or social exclusion, represents a failure of our political and economic systems, which need a radical reprogramming in order to make the EU Poverty Free.

Leo Williams, EAPN Director: “An economic and political system which allows almost 25% of the citizens of the wealthiest continent in the world to live at risk of poverty or social exclusion is a system which is morally bankrupt. These systems need to be reprogrammed, recognising that the eradication of poverty is a public good, and thus a moral and political imperative for our leaders”

Part of this reprogramming must be ensuring the progressive realisation of well-designed Minimum Income Schemes. These schemes guarantee income support for everybody who needs it, for as long as they need it, enough to live a life in dignity and fully participate in society. In cash-based societies the absence of good quality Minimum Income Schemes exposes people to take intolerable risks.

Cidalia Barriga, EAPN activist with direct experience of poverty: “The minimum income scheme was clearly not enough but it allowed me to feed my children and to ensure they could continue with their education”.

Well-designed Minimum Income Schemes (MIS) do not only benefit the people who need them, but are better for everybody. They are indispensable for more equal societies; higher levels of equality tend to lead to happier and more cohesive societies. Minimum Income Schemes represent a small percentage of social spending and have a high return on investment, while the cost of non-investment has enormous negative impacts for the individuals concerned and high long-term costs for society.

This is why we invite all European citizens to sign our petition for Guaranteed Minimum Income schemes (aimed at Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, and all national Ministers for Social Affairs and Heads of State or government)

Carlos Susias, EAPN President: “We know that change is possible, at local, national and European levels. With this action, we want to invite people to express their support for a Europe Free of Poverty. We can all be part of the change that we need!

Sign the petition here!
October 17, 2018
Tags: 17 OctMinimum Income
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EAPN

Boulevard Bischoffsheim 11
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Tel: +32.2.226.58.50
Fax: +32.2.226.58.69
EAPN Europe Staff

EU Funding

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