2016 annual convention ws social convergence7 Rebecca Lee EAPN

EAPN takes part in the Annual Convention for Inclusive Growth 2016

{Jathumbnail}21-03-2016EAPN, represented by delegates from all over Europe, attended the Annual Convention for Inclusive Growth 2016 (#ACIG2016) on 21 March, and put forward 4 Key Messages, along with 6 messages from the 14th Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty, held last November in Brussels.

The Convention was dedicated to identifying ways to improve Europe’s social dimension, by fighting poverty, reducing unemployment, and making sure no one is left behind, while the discussions mainly addressed the recently-launched consultation package around the establishment of a European Pillar of Social Rights.

 

EAPN’s PARTICIPATION IN THE ANNUAL CONVENTION

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2016 social innovation booklet cover

EAPN booklet on Social Innovation

03/03/2016 – EAPN launched its new booklet The contribution of meaningful Social Innovation to reducing poverty and social exclusion in Europe in the European Parliament on the occasion of a discussion  on the topic: How can Social Innovation contribute to reaching the poverty reduction target of Europe 2020? co-hosted by Hon Verónica Lope Fontagné MEP (EPP) and EAPN. Social innovation has been a ‘buzz’ term in European discourse over the past years, having been actively promoted by the European Commission, and tied to important funding lines for the national and EU level. The potential of a socially innovative approach to contribute to mitigating the consequences of the crisis, as well as to ensure better social inclusion and social cohesion in Europe, has been widely praised. However, the definition and use of the concept remain tenuous, and there is still ongoing debate regarding its merits, as well as hidden traps.

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eu pillar

European Commission launches consultation package on a European Pillar of Social Rights

08/03/2016 – the European Commission launched a public consultation on a European Pillar of Social Rights. EAPN welcomes an initiative that is rooted in a rights-based perspective. We hope that it can be an important step towards rebalancing the European Union agenda and giving social considerations, including the fight against poverty and social exclusion, their due place in the European architecture. EAPN particularly welcomes commitments on a wide number of key topics, grouped under three main headings: Equal opportunities and access to the labour market (education and training, security of contracts, supporting transitions, work-life balance, gender equality and equal opportunities), Fair working conditions (employment rights, wages, health and safety, social dialogue), and Adequate and sustainable social protection (social benefits – minimum income, unemployment, health and sickness, disability, pensions; services – care, child-, health- and long-term care, housing, transport, energy, financial, communications). EAPN will work closely with its members over the coming months to prepare a full response to the consultation and the initiative. 

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2015 EAPN position paper TTIP cover

People before Trade | EAPN’s position on TTIP and other related free-trade agreements

17/12/2015 – This paper outlines, in brief, the position of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) regarding international trade agreements currently being negotiated by the European Commission, on behalf of Member States, to promote free trade. It looks specifically at negotiations on agreements such as CETA, TTIP, TiSA, and tries to point out the potential consequences of these agreements, in their current form, on poverty and social exclusion in European countries.

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