“The Commission’s consultation on Active Inclusion has responded to EAPN’s major analysis and demands, such as the need for an integrated approach in the fight against poverty, the fact that employment alone is not the only route out of poverty, the need to address the inadequacy of minimum income schemes”, declared Fintan Farrell, the EAPN Director. “However, EAPN is concerned that the active inclusion approach may not be implemented consistently and that the “work first” approach that we see dominant in the EU would undermine the integrated approach that is reflected in the Commission’s communication”
EAPN therefore calls on the EU Member States to respect fundamental rights in the follow up, implementation and evaluation of the active inclusion approach. In the principles on active inclusion to be adopted under the French Presidency an overarching principle is needed, stressing that its three components, Employment, adequate income and access to services, are strictly interdependent.
“Access to quality services and adequate income are a prerequisite to employment and social integration”, added Mr. Farrell. “Unless this is recognised, then despite the nice words in the Communication, for people experiencing poverty it will just be the same old story of forcing them into employment regardless of the quality of the employment offered or their personal circumstances” added Mr Farrell
EAPN also recommends that the implementation of Active Inclusion Principles is worked out through a strengthen Open Method of Coordination, a better consistency between the processes impacting on social inclusion, and concretely supported by the financial instruments. It also calls for EU guidance to ensure qualitative participation of anti poverty organisations and the people experiencing poverty as a continuous dynamic process.
/ENDS
See:
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European Commission: Public consultation on Active inclusion
For further information, please contact Audrey Gueudet (Information Officer) or Fintan Farrell (Director), tel. +32 2 226 58 50 – fax. +32 2 226 58 69 – E-mail: team@eapn.skynet.be – Website: http://www.eapn.org/
