“EAPN has pushed quite hard for the existence of a social investment package – so we welcome the idea – but we expect it to deliver something new, concrete and able to reinforce the EU 2020 Strategy and counter the current lack of ambition to fight poverty and social exclusion”, said Sergio Aires, President of EAPN. “We want a Social Investment Package that sets a positive vision of investment in people at the heart of the Europe 2020 Strategy – investing in quality jobs, services, social protection and minimum income, as well as in promoting participation in decision-making processes. This must be linked to a concrete EU strategy to fight poverty, which really engages national stakeholders. And the SIP must also demonstrate the costs of not investing – this requires that the Commission defends social spending and infrastructures from austerity measures – particularly in Troika countries”, Mr Aires added.
The success of the SIP will depend on how far it can deliver on concrete initiatives that will have a real impact on poverty.
“The employment[1] and youth[2] flagships have produced concrete initiatives – National Job Plans and Youth Guarantee –; we need a concrete initiative for the SIP”, said Fintan Farrell, EAPN Director. “EAPN urges the EU to make progress towards an EU framework to ensure adequate minimum income across the EU. That might convince EU citizens that the EU is worth defending”.
On Friday 8th January, EAPN sent a letter to Commissioner Andor, setting out its final input on the Social Investment Package, and urging the Commission to adopt an ambitious package, and to get full backing and implementation with the Member States.
Key Messages
- Set out a positive vision of social investment at heart of the Europe 2020 Strategy
- Ensure an Integrated Strategy for fighting poverty, based on active participation of stakeholders is central.
- Defend social spending/particularly through social impact assessment and implement poverty-proofing of austerity proposals, particularly in Troika countries.
- Invest in local communities and partnerships
- Support concrete, visible initiatives to defend social rights – e.g. progress towards an EU framework Directive on the adequacy of minimum income schemes.
/END/
See:
Letter to Commission Andor and EAPN’s Input on the Social Investment Package
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For further information, contact Fintan Farrell (Director) fintan.farrell@eapn.eu or Sian Jones (Policy Coordinator) Sian.Jones@eapn.eu. Tel. +32 2 226 58 50 – fax. +32 2 226 58 69 – general e-mail: team@eapn.eu – website: www.eapn.eu.
