In this report, we present our members’ assessment of the 2020 Country Reports in the context of COVID19, monitoring progress on poverty and social rights through the Europe 2020 poverty target, the implementation of the EPSR and the SDGs as well as follow up on 2019 Country-specific Recommendations. This includes an assessment of progress on participation of PEP and NGOs in Member States and the reflection in the Country Reports.
In the context of the COVID19 epidemic, most EAPN members underlined the urgency of revising the 2020 CSRs to prioritize direct financial and other support to guarantee people’s rights and living standards, not just economic support to companies/markets. In particular, protecting people’s health and access to health/care services, defending jobs, ensuring adequate incomes and livelihoods.
COVID19 Priority Recommendations
- Embed poverty/social impact assessment
- Reinforce quality public health and social care services
- Prioritize adequate minimum income and social protection, continuing increases
- Protect employment/ prevent precarious work/ revalue front-line work
- Ensure that the poor don’t pay with austerity
Overall Messages for CSRs based on the Country reports
- Ensure macroeconomic policies, support social rights and reduce poverty
- Give priority to poverty reduction, implementing social rights and SDGs, prioritising integrated antipoverty strategies, including an EU strategy
- Support additional integrated strategies for key-at-risk groups
- Urgently improve adequacy and coverage of minimum income and social protection
- Guarantee rights to public & essential services: health, houing and social services
- Tackle barriers to accessing quality jobs and in-work poverty
- Invest in universal, free, public education, training and lifelong learning
- Strenghten meaninful participation of people experiencing poverty & NGOs at all stages