The European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) launches today an EU wide campaign for Adequate Minimum Income schemes. 24 out of 27 Member States have minimum income schemes in place at this present time, but there are serious flaws with their accessibility and their adequacy. It is time to state clearly that adequate Minimum Income schemes are a fundamental prerequisite for an EU based on social justice and equal opportunities for all!
EAPN launched today in Brussels an EU wide campaign for “Adequate Minimum Income schemes” in presence of NGO representatives, Members of the European Parliament, European Commission officials as well as national representations and social partners (ETUC, EPSU, etc.) representatives.
“Minimum income schemes do not exist in all EU countries and accessibility for all is not guaranteed in the places that they do exist. Some groups are not entitled to Minimum Income due to their age, employment situation, or status as migrants”, declared Ludo Horemans, President of EAPN.
“Complexities of the systems prevent people from taking up their rights. Moreover, Minimum Income schemes are often not set at a level adequate enough to lift people out of poverty. They do not take into account the rise in the cost of living nor the increasing price of services that people rely on, such as housing or energy.”
17 October 2007 saw the launch of a second Commission consultation about concrete proposals on how to move the ‘active inclusion’ strategy forward, including a new EU Recommendation, and a new tool to support its implementation. It will only be implemented if it is widely supported in the EU, and notably if Member States respond favorably to this proposal by the end of the consultation period (February 2008).
“Against this background, EAPN calls on the EU Member States to recognise Adequate Minimum Income schemes as an essential element of the Social Protection System as well as to guarantee access to Adequate Minimum Income as a basic right at national level”, said Fintan Farrell, Director of EAPN. “We also call on the EU Member States to engage positively in the current Commission consultation on Active Inclusion and support the proposal that ‘income support sufficient for a dignified life’ should be given key importance in a comprehensive approach to the fight against poverty and social exclusion.”
/ENDS
Download the campaign material:
- A leaflet presenting the EAPN campaign for Adequate Minimum Income schemes;
- Printable posters and postcards of the campaign;
- A model letter to send to your political leaders at National level;
- A model letter to send to your political leaders at European Level;
- A briefing note presenting the policy background of the current EAPN campaign;
- ‘Minimum Income: myths and realities’, a paper from Pf Veit-Wilson suggesting some strong arguments in favour of the idea of an adequate minimum income for a decent and dignified level of living for all.
For further information, please contact Audrey Gueudet (Information Officer) or Fintan Farrell (Director), tel.
