“The poverty reduction target finds a positive echo in some promising elements laid down in the Commission’s proposals: an increased ESF role in reducing poverty and exclusion, 20% of ESF ring-fenced for social inclusion, and commitments to increase NGO access and participation through the promotion of a more bottom-up approach in the delivery of Structural Funds” said Fintan Farrell, Director of EAPN on the eve of this crucial meeting.
“However these positive developments will be seriously endangered unless some other proposed strategic changes are reversed, such as the decrease of the Cohesion Policy budget, the introduction of macro-economic conditionality, lack of social inclusion mainstreaming”, added Mr Farrell.
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EAPN has put forward the following key messages:
Key Messages of EAPN’s response to the Commission’s legislative proposals for the Structural Funds’ Regulations post-2013
EAPN welcomes:
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The Commission’s proposals for an increased ESF role in reducing poverty and exclusion, including increased budget and 20% ring-fencing
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The commitments to increase NGO access and participation through the promotion of a more bottom-up approach in the delivery of Structural Funds
EAPN’s main concerns:
- Defend an ambitious Cohesion Policy budget – restoring the threatened 5% cut
- Tackling poverty has to be seen as a way to foster every other growth objective
- Provide additional funds for food aid
- Solidarity with poorer regions, not double penalty! – NO to macro-economic conditionality
- Develop a social inclusion mainstreaming clause and social evaluation
Improvements needed:
- Embed a binding partnership principle
- Ensure that global grants, technical assistance and capacity-building are accessible for small NGOs
- Making transnational projects really open to small NGOs
See also EAPN’s letter to Directors General in charge of the Cohesion Policy in all EU Member States, 28 October 2011.
For further information, contact Sian Jones (Policy Coordinator), sian.jones@eapn.eu or Vincent Caron (Policy Officer – Structural Funds) vincent.caron@eapn.eu Tél: +32 2 229.58.50 – fax. +32 2 226 58 69 –E-mail: team@eapn.eu – website: www.eapn.eu.
