On June 14 and 15, the Annual European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty (PeP) took place in Brussels, where around 80 People Experiencing Poverty (PeP) gathered to demand a more social Europe following the elections.
The 22nd edition, entitled “Shaping the Future of Social Europe After the EU Elections: People Experiencing Poverty at the Center of Policy-Making,” was part of the official agenda of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU. Co-organised by EAPN and BAPN, the event hosted people from 23 delegations across Europe.
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY AT THE CENTER OF POLICY-MAKING
The theme prompted a review of how #PEP2024 was conducted and the formats for expression available to the PePs. Efforts focused on creating more appropriate and respectful forms of participation, considering the diversity of viewpoints and means of expression.
To fulfill this objective the second day of the #PEP2024 was entirely devoted to the expression of PePs through two new formats:
- Citizens’ Townhall
In this free assembly, each National Delegation had the opportunity to take the microphone and share their views, projects, claims, and perspectives with the other participants and speakers. Besides resulting in the creation of a space for the participant’s voice, it also strengthens EAPN as a network.
- Workshop on Graphic Visualisation
This workshop aimed to encourage non-oral means of expression and enable the most creative PePs to express their experiences and demands through drawings.
A SOCIAL EUROPE
Following the elections, the meeting was an opportunity to exchange ideas among peers, focusing primarily on the content of the La Hulpe Interinstitutional Declaration, signed on April 16 under the mandate of the Belgian Presidency. The participants also analysed the main objectives of the document for the 2024-2029 Social Agenda, shared their views on the future of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and discussed the implementation of these guiding principles in the years to come. PeP also endorsed a pledge for a EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.
By the end, it was possible to outline plans drawn on significant life experiences for a compromise on a common declaration for the future of Social Europe.
HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE
A panel discussion with key institutional stakeholders concluded the first day, where People Experiencing Poverty presented their proposals to high-level Belgian and European politicians. UN rapporteur Olivier De Schutter, Lalieux, Jiri Svarc from DG Employment of the European Commission, and Belgian Minister Frank Vandenbroucke shared their positions on minimum income, digitalisation, homelessness, and the child guarantee. They also responded to recommendations from spokespersons of the various delegations.
The Key Recommendations presented were the following:
- Child Guarantee
Food security: healthy, accessible quality, appropriate in and out of school. - Digitalisation
Access to the necessary tools (hardware, software, internet) is a basic right and should be guaranteed. - Homelessness
- Ensure empty houses are brought back on stream to ensure additional, affordable social housing.
- European decision-makers should better understand the situation of the People Experiencing Poverty in order to develop more effective policies.
It was asked for more training for politicians on poverty and what it actually means to live with a very small budget. This should be done together with People Experiencing Poverty.
Thank you to all the people involved in another impactful edition!
Read the Press Release
