Economic Governance must deliver on social objectives with real participation from civil society

EAPN sends its contribution to President Juncker on Annual Growth Survey

22/09/2015 – EAPN sent yesterday its contribution to the Annual Growth Survey to European Commission President Juncker. As the letter highlights, EAPN has been engaged  in the European  Semester process from the start in 2011, showcasing the experience and knowledge from its members on the impact of EU policies on people’s lives. EAPN strongly hopes to meet with President Juncker to discuss the network’s contribution to the European Semester as well as adequate solutions for people’s well-being. 

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EAPN reacts to Commission’s proposal for a Recommendation on the reintegration of the long-term unemployed

17/09/2015 – The Commission’s proposal for a Recommendation on the reintegration of the long-term unemployed is now out. EAPN broadly welcomes the initiative,  but highlights important shortfall, such as insufficient references to adequate income support; hidden risks of negative activation based on sanctions and punitive measures; the absence of references to quality of work and employment;  no mention of the role and involvement of civil society organisations. 

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2015 beyond2015 CSOs

CSO open letter to Vice-President Timmermans on the 2030 Agenda

16/09/2015 – European Civil Society Organisations and Networks, including EAPN, working on both international and domestic EU policies across a wide variety of sectors addressed a letter to Vice-President of the EUropean Commission Frans Timmermans also responsible for sustainable development, ahead of the UN Summit in New York (25-27/09) where Heads of State and Government will adopt the universal, people- and planet-centered 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (‘Agenda 2030’). “As European civil society, we now expect the EU to match the ambition of this Agenda with a clear EU implementation strategy, which reflects the integrated, interlinked and comprehensive nature of the Agenda, in order to ensure well-being for all within planetary boundaries“.

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EAPN at EPC Briefing with Vice President Dombrovskis: Unfinished Business – what is needed to strengthen the EMU Governance

18/09/2015 –  At the EPC event today, Vice President Dombrovskis provided an update on the latest developments on deepening the EMU, implementing the 5 President’s Report. The main priorities up to 2017 were outlined as 1) implementing the macroeconomic rule through the European Semester, 2)  Financial Backstops and 2) Banking Union. The key slogan was ‘deepening by doing’ –   implementing closer macroeconomic governance through the European Semester, by focussing more clearly on Social and Economic Challenges and improving  visibility and ownership of the Semester by involving more Member States, European parliament and Social partners. Sian Jones, EAPN, intervened on 5 key elements:

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