Youth Poverty and Social Exclusion in Europe – Issues, causes, and what can be done at EU and national levels

01/10/2014 – The labour market situation of young people in Europe is one of today’s most debated topics, with unemployment rates reaching 23.4% in 2013, and over 55% in countries such as Greece or Spain. Yet, a less known number is even more staggering: 29.7% of Europe’s young men and women experienced poverty and social exclusion in 2012 (EU-28, Eurostat, 2012).

The crucial Mid-Term Review of the Europe 2020 Strategy – see EAPN’s input

8/10/2014 – EAPN has invested a large amount of resources in trying to engage and monitor the delivery of the Europe 2020 Strategy with inputs to the National Reform Programmes and proposals for Country-specific Recommendations (see other publications in this section). In 2015, the EU Institutions, under the auspices of the new European Parliament and Commission will carry out a Mid-Term Review of the Strategy. This process was launched on the 5 March 2014 with the Commission’s Stock-Taking Communication assessment of the Europe 2020 strategy and followed on 5 May, with the launch of an on-line public consultation with a deadline of 31 October.

Our overwhelming concern is: Can the Europe 2020 Strategy be made fit for purpose enough to deliver its promises on poverty reduction?

EAPN’s Assessment of the National Reform Programmes 2014

8/10/2014 – This year marks the last round of National Reform Programmes (NRPs) before the Mid-Term Review of the Europe 2020 strategy in 2015. Whilst some signs of recovery have been seen in some countries, Europe’s social crisis continues to worsen, as a result of rising unemployment and continuing austerity policies.

In this context, EAPN members have continued to try to engage in the Semester and Europe 2020 process at national and EU level, with the hope that increased engagement could help to bring real progress on effective policies to meet the poverty target. EAPN’s report From Austerity to Inclusive Growth – what progress? builds on the 2013 NRP Assessment: Widening the Gap and EAPN member’s assessment and proposals for Country-specific Recommendations for 2014.