AGS 2014: Missed opportunity to restore EU credibility!

EAPN Press releases

EAPN welcomes the new AGS 2014 priority on participation of national stakeholders, but deplores the failure to refocus on Europe 2020 and its targets and to propose a coherent strategy to tackle rising poverty

Brussels, 17 November 2013 –The European Anti-Poverty Network’s first reaction to the AGS, which the Commission adopted yesterday, is one of disappointment. EAPN criticizes the failure to re-focus the AGS on Europe 2020 and its targets (particularly the poverty and other social targets) and insists on the need for coherent integrated strategies, as called for in the EAPN letter to President Barroso on October 4th. The proposal to strengthen national stakeholder engagement in the Semester is however welcomed, but concerns raised about the overall aims.

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20pc-STRIPE

Will MEPs give the ESF its full potential to reduce poverty?

EAPN Press releases

Brussels, 18 November 2013 – Last week, EAPN and the 19 other NGOs running the campaign EU Money for Poverty Reduction NOW! sent an urgent letter to the President of the European Parliament and the Presidents of the European political groups, on the eve of the plenary vote on the EU Budget and the ESF Regulation 2014-2020. The Coalition sees this vote as a test of the European Parliament’s commitment to reducing poverty by supporting a strong European Social Fund of at least 25% of the Cohesion Budget to back the 20% earmarked for poverty reduction. This would make a real difference for the 120 million women and men currently facing poverty and social inclusion across the European Union and would help to increase people’s trust in the European Parliament in these times of crisis.

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The Poverty Alliance, (Scottish member of EAPN UK): New Living Wage Figure Announced For Scotland

EAPN National Networks News

04/11 – As part of the annual ‘Living Wage Week’, the Scottish Living Wage Campaign and the Living Wage Foundation has announced the new living wage figure will be £7.65 an hour for the coming year, an increase of 20p. More than 400 companies and organisations across the UK are now officially accredited Living Wage Employers. Living Wage Week will highlight the benefits that the living wage brings for both companies and employees. 

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