EAPN

Launch of Poverty Watch 2020 – "Covid-19 supercharging poverty": data and experiences from the ground
2021-01-29 14:00 - 16:30 UTC
The Poverty Watches start from the reality of people experiencing poverty and the perspectives of NGOs who work with them. With poverty predicted to rise to at least levels seen in the 2008 crisis, and the EU Action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights and Recovery and Resilience Plans around the corner, the time is now to get poverty elimination right.
The event, hosted online by MEPs Cindy Franssen and Marisa Matias, will hear about realities and recommendations from our members in Belgium, Portugal, Slovenia and in the International Federation of Social Workers. MEPs and the Commission will respond and together we will discuss ways forward.
Draft Programme
You can find the draft programme here (PDF).
Registration
To register to the conference, please fill in this form before 22 January 2021.
Practical information
Format: via Zoom
Date: 29 January 2021 – 14:00 – 16:30

For further information on content, contact Anna Krozser (Policy & Advocacy Coordinator) anna.krozser@eapn.eu, or on registrations Rebecca Lee (Information & Events Officer), rebecca.lee@eapn.eu | Tel. +32 2 226
#PovertyWatch

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - European Parliament Poverty Intergroup event
2020-10-15 15:00 - 17:30 UTC
Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all
We and members ATD Fourth World have been working with the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Poverty who are planning an online event on 15 October 2020. The focus will be ‘Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all’, which links to the global theme (see here).
Time: 15:00 – 17:30
To register, click here
Interpretation: English, French, Italian and Portuguese
PROGRAMME

15:00 – 15:10
Introduction
Cindy Franssen | Co-Chair of the IG Fighting Against Poverty

15:10 – 15:25
Key Note Speech
Olivier De Schutter | UN Special Rapporteur for Extreme Poverty

15:25 – 16:00
Experiences and recommendations from the point of view of persons experiencing poverty
Video | Dialogue on sustainability with persons experiencing poverty in Belgium
Céline Dock | ATD Fourth World / Belgium
Cidália Barriga | European Anti-Poverty Network / Portugal
Pacou Dessicy | European Anti-Poverty Network / Belgium

16:00 – 16:20
First reactions
Marisa Matias | Vice-Chair of the IG Fighting Against Poverty
Marie Toussaint | Vice-Chair of the IG Fighting Against Poverty
Santina Bertulessi | Deputy Head of Cabinet – Commissioner Nicholas Schmit
Representative of the Green New Deal European Parliament Intergroup

16:20 – 16:50
Open the floor for other participants

16:50 – 17:00
Wrap-up and Closure
Pierfrancesco Majorino, Co-Chair of the IG Fighting Against Poverty

Conference Our Social Europe - Strong Together | Germany's Presidency of the Council of the European Union
2020-09-16 09:30 - 17:00 UTC
EAPN will take an active part in the conference “Our Social Europe – Strong Together” on 16 September 2020. This conference organised by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs under their presidency of the Council of the European Union will be the opportunity to discuss:

How can we use social and employment policy but also economic and fiscal policy to bolster the upward convergence of living conditions in Europe and overcome the crisis?
What are effective ways to promote inclusive growth and combat inequality and poverty in Europe?

The Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the EU
The aim is to promote solidarity and to work together on the issue of upward convergence in living and working conditions in view of the Corona crisis. Our Social Europe is only strong together.
EAPN’S workshop
EAPN, along with Caritas Europe, Eurodiaconia and the Social Platform, will hold a workshop on Adequate, accessible & enabling minimum income schemes across Europe. We are going to specifically advocate for an EU Framework Directive on Adequate Minimum Income to lay the foundation of a basic social safety net, while at the same time reducing poverty and inequalities by fostering upward social convergence within and across EU Member States and mitigating the immediate and long-term socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speakers
The conference will include contributions by:

Violeta Alexandru, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Romania
Ana Mendes Godinho, Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Protection, Portugal
Hubertus Heil, Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany
Renate Hornung-Draus, Managing Director, Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA)
Jana Maláčová, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Czech Republic
David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament
Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights
Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)

Registration
Please note that the conference will be held on-line but in case the situation allows, a limited number of seats will be available for on-site guests. If you want to participate on-site in Berlin, you need to register by 12th August 2020 here!
Read the programme

EAPN’s online policy conference | How to ensure the poor don’t pay for Covid-19 – From short-term response to an effective rights-based integrated antipoverty strategy ~14 July 2020
2020-07-14 14:00 - 16:30 UTC
EAPN’s annual policy conference will be held online on 14 July, 14-16:30, which will focus on how to ensure the poor don’t pay for Covid-19 – and ensuring that short-term responses feed into an effective long-term rights-based EU strategy to fight poverty. There will be interpretation between English and Spanish.
The current COVID19 epidemic is decimating Europe, with a far-reaching social impact, particularly on the poor and most vulnerable who are hardest hit. This is already leading to a substantial increase in poverty and inequality, unequally spread across different regions and countries (see EAPN COVID-19 statement). Most Member States have developed immediate aid packages which in many cases directly benefit the poor and vulnerable. Most however are only temporary. Will these deliver concrete results for people experiencing poverty? Will these short-term measures feed into a progressive, rights-based EU strategy to fight poverty? What needs to be done to ensure this outcome?
EAPN and its members responded quickly to the outbreak of the virus with a Statement and letter to the European Council on key measures as well as a letter to Commissioner Schmit, signed by large number of MEPs and key stakeholders. See our dedicated online resource, including voices from the ground, here. Over the past 2 months we have carried out a detailed study including webinar exchanges with our members in 32 countries, tracking the impact of the crisis on people experiencing poverty and the efficacy of the measures being taken.
In the longer term, we want to see these measures underpinned by an EU integrated strategy to fight poverty, that invests in adequate incomes (decent wages, adequate minimum income and social protection) and access to essential services, as part of the Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights. Adopting a social and sustainable Agenda 2030 strategy, that makes ending poverty a pre-requisite, will be key to ensuring real results for people experiencing poverty. (See EAPN’s position Paper on post 2020: Delivering Agenda 2030 for people and planet).
With this online conference we will now present our study’s main findings and policy recommendations for national and EU levels and discuss them with decision makers & stakeholders.
See the programme here
Register here by 10 July!

The Time is Now to make Europe Poverty Free! #2019PEP
2019-11-18 08:00 - 2019-11-19 14:30 UTC
The Time is Now to make Europe Poverty Free! #2019PEP

The 18th European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty is organised by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) with the support of the EU Commission and the EAPN Fund, and with the participation of the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The programme of the Meeting is available here.

The National Networks Preparation page will soon be filled with even more news from different countries of how preparations for this year’s Meeting are going! You can also follow us on Facebook EAPN – European Anti-Poverty Network and Twitter @EAPNEurope!
Objectives of the 2019 European meeting
This years’ Meeting of People experiencing poverty will be centered on five important discussion topics:

Access to housing,
Participation of people experiencing poverty in the lives of their communities and societies,
Access to adequate minimum income,
Access to good quality health care services,
and access to decent jobs and equal employment opportunities for different categories.

Over a hundred people experiencing poverty from 30 European countries are preparing around this topic and will be in Brussels on 18-19 November to share their knowledge and experience with each other, and with EU decision-makers.
The 2019 European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty is taking place during a new term of the European Commission and Parliament. We are hoping to use this opportunity to raise awareness about the history and the importance of the PeP meetings, which have been organized since 2000. This meeting, as with all the past meetings, will allow people with direct experience of poverty to discuss their political priorities, first at the national level and then during the European meeting. We would like to use this meeting to shape the agenda of the new European institutions to include the common priorities of those experiencing poverty throughout Europe.

Practical info:
9:30 – 17:30 (18 Nov) & 9:00 – 14:30 (19 Nov), Crowne Plaza, Rue Gineste 3, 1210 Brussels
Places are limited so please contact us if keen to participate @ magda.tancau (@) eapn.eu!

EAPN Annual conference | Beyond Europe 2020 to Agenda 2030: Working together for a post 2020 strategy that really benefits people and planet
2019-06-13 08:30 - 13:00 UTC
EAPN’s annual conference will be 13 June. We will provide a participative reflection space to progress concrete proposals.
The conference will aim to:

To raise awareness of current challenges facing people experiencing poverty in the context of a lacking strategy.
To exchange with stakeholders & decision-makers on concrete proposals for the EU post 2020 Strategy.
To debate on how to create synergies to benefit people and planet, as part of a transformative EU and in the context of the new Commission and Parliament.

See the programme here!
2020 marks the end of the Europe 2020 strategy that aimed to promote smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Despite unacceptable failure to deliver on the key target to reduce those in poverty by at least 20 million people by 2020, no review or public consultation of the strategy is planned.
The main proposals coming from the Commission are through the Future of Europe Reflection papers. In January 2019 a new Reflection Paper “Towards a sustainable Europe by 2030’’ was adopted. This paper aims to stimulate discussion on the EU’s vision and strategy for the long-term implementation of the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as part of a broader debate on the future of Europe and the priority setting for the new European Commission. It sets out three scenarios on how Agenda 2030 and the SDGs could be incorporated into the EU’s priorities.
One of the priorities is a socially fair transition to a sustainable economy that should leave no one behind, yet the paper predominantly focuses on how to deliver green growth, with the social objectives left to the European Pillar of Social Rights.
In 2017, EAPN’s policy conference Learning from the past to beyond Europe 2020 already agreed key messages on the need for an ambitious post 2020 built on Europe 2020 targets that could deliver an “ambitious social, sustainable and democratic vision for Europe based on Agenda 2030 and the SDGs”. This strategy should implement the European Pillar of Social Rights and develop an explicit rights-based integrated anti-poverty strategy based on active participation and backed by EU funding. This has been further developed under EAPN’s Future of Europe Position Paper, calling for support for a sixth scenario.
This participative conference comes therefore at a timely moment – just after the election of the new European Parliament and the start of the new Commission, – to agree concrete demands that can ensure that the post 2020 strategy really delivers on social rights and poverty, putting SDG 1 at the heart of a truly social and sustainable post 2020 strategy.
Key speakers

First Vice-President, Commissioner Frans Timmermans, European Commission (tbc)
Carlos Susías, EAPN President/EAPN ES
Vera Hinterdorfer, EAPN Vice-President/Activist with direct experience of poverty/EAPN AT
Heather Roy, Secretary General, Eurodiaconia
Freek Spinnewijn, Director, FEANTSA
Jana Hainsworth, Secretary General, Eurochild (tbc)
Leida Rijnhout, Steering Group member, SDG Watch and Agenda 2030 Multi-Stakeholder Platform
Mary Collins, Senior Policy & Advocacy Coordinator, European Women’s Lobby
Graciela Malgesini, Chair of EAPN EU Inclusion Strategies Group/EAPN ES
Marco Cilento, Senior Advisor, ETUC
First Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuiness (via video)

Practical information
13 June 2019, 9:00 – 13:00, Area 42, rue des Palais 46A, 1030 Brussels
Around 80 EAPN members, including people with direct experience of poverty, and around 50 external stakeholders will participate.
For further information on content, contact Sian Jones (Policy Coordinator) sian.jones@eapn.eu or on registrations Rebecca Lee (Information & Events Officer), rebecca.lee@eapn.eu | Tel. +32 2 226 58 50
Follow us on Twitter @EAPNEurope
Photo: © Rebecca Lee, EAPN
This event is supported by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation “EaSI” (2014-2020). The information contained does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission. For further information please consult: http://ec.europa.eu/social/easi.

Dignity and Well-being: Exchange for changing Seminar
2019-05-09 | Warsaw
SMES-Europa, with partners of the project Erasmus+, organise the European Seminar : “Dignity and Well-being- Exchange for changing” , to conclude and to disseminate the results of the Erasmus+ project.
The Seminar will take place in Warsaw on 9 May 2019.
The purpose of this seminar is to exchange of experience and views on:

how to promote fundamental rights and well-being for persons in extreme poverty situation, connected with severe mental health problems, helping them for :

social assistance,
adequate housing,
proper healthcare,
participation opportunities;

how to ensure better cooperation and coordination between services and institutions helping such persons – especially on the junction of social and health fields;
how to reach out to those isolated in most precarious conditions.

More information is available in this MANUAL
The organization of this final European meeting is particularly assured by the local Erasmus+ partner: the Diocesan Caritas of Warsaw, in collaboration with the other seven partners: Applicant : Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa (PT) – SMES-Europa (BE) – Projekt UDENFOR (DK) – ISTITUTO ANDREA DEVOTO (IT) – Society of Social Psychiatry & Mental Health (GR) – PARC SANITARI SANT JOAN DE DEU (SP) – Midladns Simon Community (IRL)

Agenda
The agenda is available here

Registration
To register, please submit your registration before 20 April (you can find the registration form here)
Please send back this form filled in by email to: aczarnocki@caritasaw.pl
Or contact Andrzej Czarnocki: +48 602 698 054

Popular Political Economy in Europe? Looking for a pathway for job-creating and ecological public investment
2019-03-14 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | RLS Brussels, Rue Saint-Ghislain, 62, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
It is obvious that the economy after the major global crash in 2007 did not return to a sustainable path that would guarantee a decent life in dignity, providing socio-economic security and unfolding of human capabilities to the majority of European citizens. At the beginning of 2019, it is highly likely that we are entering a new recession. Also, while there are signs of stability in some places, it is equally clear that such achievements are established on the shoulders of social strata and/or countries and regions that are not winners of global value chains, but losers, standing at the end of poverty chains. Within the EU, it is evident by the arrogance, expressed in using the term “PIIGS” for a group of member states that are victims of an oppressive economic strategy; globally, it is obvious that the catching-up of the so-called emerging economies means increasing inequality in countries such as Brazil, China and India.
The European Economists for an Alternative Economic Policy in Europe (the EuroMemo Group) is a network of European researchers and scholars addressing these issues by a critical analysis of contemporary developments in the European Union. Critical research and policy analysis alone will however not trigger political change on the ground. In order to achieve the latter, discussion and coordination with political activists is essential for asking the important questions and to move things forward.
We face the urgent need to go beyond the orientation of coping with the manifest crisis and the temporary recoveries. We need – globally, regionally and nationally – socio-economic programmes that allow for a transformation towards a ‘people’s economy’, also being a bulwark against authoritarian populist advances. This evening will briefly present the EuroMemo Group’s work and recent analysis. The main aim is to continue and enhance the debate with other actors, aiming to solidify the common ground for a popular Europe, able to withstand an apparent populist Zeitgeist.

Agenda
You can download the agenda here

WELCOME by Andreas Thomsen, Head of RLS Brussels Office
PRESENTATION of the EuroMemo 2019 by Werner Raza & Marija Bartl
PANEL DISCUSSION: POLITICAL PRIORITIES FOR A POPULAR POLITICAL ECONOMY IN EUROPE

Sian Jones, European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN)
Nick Meynen, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
Peter Herrmann, EuroMemo
Alter Summit (to be confirmed)

Registration
If you would like to participate please register by March 11th, by sending an email to janna.aljets@rosalux.org.

For more information, click here

Poverty Watch: The reality of poverty and social exclusion in the EU
2019-01-29 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | European Parliament, room ASP 5E3, Brussels, Belgium
The European Parliament’s Intergroup Fighting Against Poverty and EAPN are pleased to invite you to the meeting of the Intergroup on:
Poverty Watch: The reality of poverty and social exclusion in the EU.
An exchange on the European Anti-Poverty Network’s 2018 Poverty Watch Reports.
The event will be held on Tuesday 29 January 2019, from 13h00 to 15h00 at the European Parliament in Brussels, room ASP 5E3.
The conference will be an opportunity to exchange together on the Poverty Watch reports from Finland, Spain, Italy and Lithuania.

Practical information
The agenda is available here
The Poverty Watch Summary is available here
Registration is now closed

For further information on content, contact Sian Jones (Policy Coordinator) sian.jones@eapn.eu, or on registrations Florence Tornincasa (Information & Events Officer), florence.tornincasa@eapn.eu | Tel. +32 2 226 58 50

"Social policy in the European Union: state of play 2018" Presentation-debate
2018-12-11 08:30 - 12:30 UTC | The International Auditorium, Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5, Brussels, 1210, Belgium
To mark the 19th edition of their flagship publication, the European Social Observatory (OSE) and the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) are holding a presentation-debate.
A dominant issue in this annual review is the way in which the European Pillar of Social Rights has influenced EU policy making even before it was politically endorsed. The book examines the impact of the Pillar’s new ‘rights-based social investment approach’ while also questioning if the Pillar could encourage a fully-fledged ‘European Social Union’. But will it also be able to steer the EU’s macroeconomic policies? This volume looks at social protection of the self-employed, recent progress in occupational health and the impact of the digital transition on job quality. Eco-social policies need to be put on the agenda urgently – but at whose expense?
Confirmed speakers: Anne Bergenfelt, EC, DG for Climate Action; Liina Carr, ETUC; Maxime Cerrutti, BusinessEurope; Dalila Ghailani, OSE; Maurizio Ferrera, University of Milan; Max Koch, University of Lund; Vasiliki Kokkori, Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen; Philippe Pochet, ETUI; Slavina Spasova, OSE; Sebastiano Sabato, OSE; Bart Vanhercke, OSE; Mathijn Wilkens, EUROFOUND.
Practical details & participation:
Date: Tuesday 11 December 2018 (8h30 – 12h45).
Venue: The International Auditorium, Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5 – 1st floor – 1210 Brussels
Interventions in EN and FR: interpretation in these languages will be provided.
Please register here (registration is mandatory)
More information and agenda here
Follow the debate on Twitter: #SPEU18

“Building Social Europe”, Flagship conference by Social Platform
2018-11-29 09:00 - 2018-11-30 14:00 (Europe/Lisbon) | Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Av. de Berna, 45 A, Lisbon, Portugal, 1067 001, Portugal
We are pleased to announce the Flagship Conference “Building Social Europe” that will take place on 29-30 November 2018 in Lisbon and which is organised in cooperation with the Portuguese Government. Arrivals are foreseen on 28 November and a networking dinner is planned for all members on that day. We very much hope that many of you and your Portuguese members will join us and make our very first Flagship Conference a big success! We invite and encourage you to register soon, as the number of places is limited.
You can find more information and the provisional programme on our website and facebook event where all the updates and practical information will be posted.

Practical details & participation:
Registration deadline: Monday, 5 November 2018. You can register here.
Reimbursement: Up to 500 euro of travel and accommodation costs for two nights on 28 and 29 November for one person per member organisation will be reimbursed. In addition we will reimburse up to 200 euro to support the participation of one delegate from your Portuguese member.
Accommodation: Social Platform is currently pre-booking rooms in hotels near the conference venue. More information will be sent to you after confirming your registration.
Language of the conference: The conference will be in English and Portuguese. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided during all panels and workshops.

17th EU Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty - Let’s make education a way out of poverty! #2018PEP
2018-11-07 09:00 - 2018-11-08 14:30 UTC | MCE Conference & Business Centre, Rue de l'Aqueduc 118, Brussels, 1050, Belgium
Over a hundred people experiencing poverty from 30 European countries are preparing around this topic and will be in Brussels on 7-8 November to share their knowledge and experience with each other, and with EU decision-makers.
For EAPN, education is a state of being ready for continuous learning, and ready for life. It is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all and not solely seen as a means to access the labour market. Thus, we will be using participative methodologies to discuss issues like:

Developing a broad and inclusive education policy
Early-learning, early school-leaving and child poverty
Lifelong learning beyond labour market needs
Ensuring participation of students and parents experiencing poverty in education schemes… And much more.

The programme is available on our dedicated Voices of Poverty section of this website.
You can also follow the preparation of the meeting on Facebook EAPN – European Anti-Poverty Network and Twitter @EAPNEurope (#2018PEP)!
For further information, contact Stéphanie Genteuil (PeP Support Officer) stephanie.genteuil@eapn.eu | Tel. +32 2 226 58 50
The 17th European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty is organised by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) with the support of the EU Commission, the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the EAPN Fund.

Co-creating open digital services for age-friendly cities and communities - Join Mobile Age Final Conference
2018-10-10 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Royal Library of Belgium, Boulevard de l'Empereur 4, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
AGE has been involved in the EU-funded project Mobile Age since early 2016. The project aims at co-creating together with older persons digital services to support their independent living, offer greater opportunities for social participation, and improve their mobility.
Local governments are more and more using open data to provide public services to their citizens. However, they lack tools on how to involve citizens, especially older citizens, in the design, planning, implementation and evaluation of these initiatives in order to make them address citizens’ needs and expectations in their daily life. To fill that gap, the Mobile Age project, together with older persons, local government, social care service providers, has developed and tested a co-creation methodology and tools in four pilot sites: Bremen (DE), South Lakeland (UK), Zaragoza (ES) and Region Central Macedonia (EL).
AGE is now co-organising the final conference of the project in Brussels on 10 October 2018. The event will offer the opportunity to learn about the tools and discuss our lessons learnt and policy briefings in order to help other cities and regions to benefit from them.
Practical details & participation
More information on this event can be found here.
You may already register here | Deadline: 30 September 2018
Agenda and speakers can be found
here

Please note that the event is free of charge.

Policy Conference: Implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights – Experiences and Practices in European Countries and International Perspectives
2018-09-28 09:00 - 13:00 UTC | Cultural hall of the VHS Wien Rudolfsheim, Schwendergasse 41, Wien, 1150, Austria
The policy conference is organized by the European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) and the Austrian Network “Die Armutskonferenz”, in the framework of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The conference supports the exchange of experiences of national networks about the use of the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) in the European Semester, policy papers and public relations / media work. It aims to find ways and elaborate strategies to use the EPSR to meaningfully combat poverty and social exclusion at the European and National Level.
Conference language is English.
Registration until 20. September by sending an Email to office@armutskonferenz.at
The participation is free of costs.
The conference is supported by the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Debate on Democracy & "The People"
2018-09-19 09:00 - 18:00 UTC | Room 1, ‘Palais de l’Europe’, Council of Europe, 528 Avenue de l'Europe, Strasbourg, France, 67000, France
On 19 September 2018, to mark the International Day of Democracy, the Directorate General of Democracy and the Conference of INGOs are organising a debate entitled: Democracy & “The People”, aiming to re-assert the value of our democratic institutions based on individual human rights, civic participation in public decision-making and the rule of law. Click here to see more information.
The keynote address by Yascha Mounk, author of “The People vs Democracy”, will set the tone and the framework for this discussion – that the values and institutions of democracy and human rights must be preserved and defended not only by capable leaders dedicated to the common good, but also with integrity and courage by engaged citizens. Click here to access the full programme.
Practical details & participation
Languages of debate: English / French.
Location: Room 1, ‘Palais de l’Europe’, Council of Europe.
Register online before 11 September 2018. You can find the registration form here.

EAPN annual Policy conference 5 July: Social Protection for All! How can the Social Pillar and SDGs build stronger welfare states?
2018-07-05 08:30 - 13:00 UTC
EAPN’s annual conference will be on 5 July, 9:00-13:00, under the title Social Protection for All! How can the Social Pillar and SDGs build stronger welfare states?
The conference will be an opportunity to exchange together on the following questions:

What is Social Protection for all?
How can we ensure that all people, children, adults and older people get right to adequate and equal protection against all life risks?
Do we need a new concept of ‘Welfare States’?
How can this be achieved ensuring fairer redistribution?

It aims to:

Present why social protection for all is key, including input from people experiencing poverty;
Discuss the challenges and promising practices from the national level;
Get feedback & debate on access to social protection and guaranteed minimum income with the European Commission, European Parliament, Council & Civil Society partners;
Give special attention to the financing and concept of Welfare states with input from the ILO and other Civil Society Organisations.

Key speakers invited:

People experiencing poverty & EAPN members
Joost Korte, Director General DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Jana Hainsworth, President of Social Platform and Eurochild General Secretary
A representative of the EMIN project (European Minimum Income Network)
MEP Maria João Rodrigues, Vice-President of the S&D Group and President of FEPS
Jan Farzan, German Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
A representative from ILO
Francine Mestrum, Founder of Global Social Justice
Conny Reuter, Solidar General Secretary

Practical details & participation
The conference will be from 9:00-13:00 in the Crowne Plaza hotel, rue Gineste 3, 1210 Brussels.
Participants: Around 80 EAPN members, including people with direct experience of poverty, and around 60 external stakeholders participants.
For further information on content, contact Sian Jones (Policy Coordinator) sian.jones@eapn.eu, or on registrations Rebecca Lee (Information & Events Officer), rebecca.lee@eapn.eu | Tel. +32 2 226 58 50
See the full webpage about the event here.

WORLD CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DUBLIN
2018-07-04 - 2018-07-07 | Dublin, Ireland

World Community Development Conference
2018-06-24 - 2018-06-27 | Maynooth, Ireland

Future Challenges for the Homeless Sector in Europe | FEANTSA 2018 Policy Conference
2018-06-14 - 2018-06-15 | Berlin, Germany
FEANTSA and Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Wohnungslosenhilfe e.V. (BAG W)
invite you to save the date for the 2018 annual FEANTSA conference.
Mingle with over 300 participants and a range of high-level speakers from across the homeless sector and wider European policy-making field.
With a range of different workshops, site visits and working spaces to choose from, come and share your inspirational practices and engage in policy debates on a diverse range of issues.

26th European Social Services Conference
2018-05-28 - 2018-05-30 | Seville, Spain
The 26th European Social Services Conference (ESSC) will take place in Seville (Spain) on 28-30 May 2018, organised by the European Social Network and for the first time in association with the Regional Ministry of Equality and Social Policies of the Regional Government of Andalusia.
The 26th anniversary edition of the ESSC will explore how we can improve services through social investments.
Throughout the conference, various organisations from all sectors will be hosting workshops showcasing the latest good practice examples from across Europe – and your organisation could be one of them!
Within the overarching theme for 2018, the EESC will feature innovative initiatives on the following four streams:

INVESTING in people-centred services
INVESTING in new forms of partnerships
INVESTING in the social service workforce
INVESTING in technology

Click here for more information.

European Commission | Open Roundtable on the Future of Work
2018-02-05 - 2018-02-06
The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies is organising an Open Roundtable convened by the European Commission on the topic of the Future of Work on 5 February 2018 in Brussels.
The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) is an independent, multi-disciplinary body appointed by the President of the European Commission which advises on all aspects of Commission policies and legislation where ethical, societal and fundamental rights dimensions intersect with the development of science and new technologies. The EGE provides guidance to the highest political level of the European Commission, reporting to the Commission President, and to the College of Commissioners as a whole.
At the request of the Commission President, the Group is now preparing an Opinion on the Future of Work. The Opinion will explore phenomena ranging from the consequences of automation and digitalisation on the labour market and the future role of artificial intelligence through to the rise of the gig economy and industry 4.0, examining the extent to which longstanding governance frameworks, such as social security systems and employment laws, require updating. At its core, the Opinion will consider fundamental questions of why we work and how work gives us meaning, and how European values of justice, dignity and solidarity can be realised in a changing world.
In that context, the EGE is organising a high level Open Roundtable, inviting a broad spectrum of academics, policymakers and key stakeholders to discuss and debate the thorny questions at the heart of this topic. The roundtable, which will be opened by Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Science, Research and Innovation, will feed directly into the preparation of the EGE’s Opinion, testing its preliminary findings and gaining inputs to further its reflection.
EAPN’s Senior Policy Officer, Amana Ferro, is participating as a high level speaker in this event, speaking on work and poverty, new forms of precarious work, and anti-poverty policies.
Register quickly! (stated deadline, extended, is 31 January!)

Building a European Social Standards Union - what role for the European Semester?
2017-12-07 09:00 - 12:00 UTC
This seminar is jointly hosted by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) with Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto (S&D) and Jean Lambert (Greens/EFA). It aims to see how progress can be made on social rights, social standards and poverty reduction, through the main EU coordination instrument – the European Semester – in the context of 1 in 4 of the population (119 million people) still at risk of poverty and social exclusion in the EU.
It comes at a timely moment, following President Juncker’s State of the Union Address calling for a “European Union of Social Standards”, the Inter-Institutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights and the recent adoption of the 2018 Annual Growth Survey The key questions that will be: how well is the European Semester performing on social rights and poverty reduction? How will the Pillar of Social Rights be mainstreamed? What changes should be made to transform the Semester into a balanced economic and social instrument? How will grass-roots actors, including people experiencing poverty be involved?
The seminar will open with an exchange of views between stakeholders, and European Parliament assessing current performance of the Semester, including presenting EAPN’s 2017 Assessment of the National Reform Programmes: Social Rights or Social Plight? The second panel will involve an exchange between the European Parliament, European Commission and Council on the way forward, with an active debate with the audience.

Registration
Please register here. If you don’t have an EP badge, we will need your nationality, date of birth and ID or passport number.
The event will take place from 9.00 to 12.00 on Thursday 7 December 2017 in the European Parliament (room TBC). Tea/Coffee and water will be provided.

For more information, please contact: Sian Jones (sian.jones@eapn.eu) and for registrations: Rebecca Lee (Rebecca.lee@eapn.eu).

#On Our Watch hackathon!
2017-09-29 09:30 - 2017-10-01 17:00 UTC | IHECS Academy, Rue des Grands Carmes 27, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
Are you a dataviz specialist, coder, journalist, activist or policy specialist?
Pre-register for On our Watch hackathon (29 September-1 October 2017, Brussels) to dive into the 2014-2017 EP votes data and try to make sense of it!
What is On Our Watch?
A collective initiative based on co-creation, #OnOurWatchEU project brings together European civil society organisations and offers them a platform to assess the work of the European Parliament on a wide range of issues with the aim of informing citizens and generating debate.
EAPN’s role
EAPN has joined on Our Watch and has been contributing to the fight against poverty section.
Find out more on EAPN ON OUR WATCH page .
Why a hackathon?
Because apps and visualizations are always more impactful than raw data and lengthy papers!
Fighting poverty, Transparency, Youth participation, Gender equality… The On Our Watch website offers insights of the work of the EP on many topics, as well as analysis of certain votes. With the hackathon and with you, we would like to further scrutinize the work of the EP in a fun and creative way!
Where?
IHECS Academy, Rue des Grands Carmes 27, 1000 Brussels.
Come as you are, with your computer, your skills and your ideas, we will take care of the rest! (food, drinks, wifi, plugs, and fun provided)
How can I join?
Pre-register via the link below! Participants will be selected at the end of August. For the participants from the activist/policy specialist sector, priority will be given to On Our Watch partners.
More information? Have a look at onourwatch.eu/events or contact Laetitia Veriter via veriter@citizensforeurope.eu

Conference "Youth for Sustainable Europe"
2017-09-25 - 2017-09-27 | Brussels, Belgium
Young European Federalist (JEF Europe) in the framework of the LADDER project (Local Authorities as Drivers for Development Education and Raising Awareness) invites you to take part in the conference “Youth for Sustainable Europe” taking place in Brussels from 25 to 27 of September 2017.
About the Special Initiative
It aims to bring together European and local policy-makers, youth organizations and civil society, along with young people from all over Europe to discuss the role of youth in creating a sustainable future for
all and implement the SGDs.
How will it work?
The conference will take 2.5 days and will consist of:
-panel debates and discussions between the policy-makers, civil society and citizens on the Agenda 2030 for development, as well as the role of youth organizations in development and raising awareness of SDGs on a local level.
– interactive workshops by youth organizations and civil society representatives on various youth in development related topics
– debate with the heads of political party youth organizations on the role of youth in sustainable development on the European, national and local level.
Application procedure
Application form: HERE
Deadline for applications: September 1st, 23:59 CET**
Applications will be selected on the first-come-first-serve basis, so do no wait too long to apply!
For any inquiries please contact Sonja Afanasjeva at this email address: sonja.afanasjeva@jef.eu
For more information please read the invitation below :
Call YouthForSustainableEurope
Size : 2 MB Format : PDF

ACT 4 FREE MOVEMENT TRAINING - Apply to take part!
2017-09-18 - 2017-09-20 | Warsaw, Poland
Along with ECAS, European Alternatives is proposing a series of training sessions for free movement activists.
You will learn about the drivers for hostile or ignorant attitudes to mobile European citizens, be provided with training from experts in EU citizens’ rights, in campaigning and in project management and tasked with developing a campaign against restrictions to freedom of movement and mobility rights.
The first training course will take place in Warsaw on 18-20 September and will be followed by courses in Madrid on 25-27 October , London in February 2018 and Florence in June 2018.
Find more information here.

Social Work Education in Europe | Challenging boundaries, promoting a sustainable future
2017-06-27 - 2017-06-29 | Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
The Paris conference in 2017 will join a large group of European social work educators, students, practitioners and users in interactive discussion, dialogue and exchange of ideas and thoughts. The EASSW along with its partner UNAFORIS from France are offering participants the unique opportunity to present their research findings, theoretical and practical insights and experiences as well as to exchange common ideas and attitudes.
Main themes of this year’s conference will be:
1- Prospects, methodology, research and innovatory practice in social work education
2- Development of curriculum and course contents in social work
3- Ethical issues: teaching ethics and being ethical teachers
4- Structural and organizational conditions, and professional status
The deadline for receiving abstracts is 7 November.
Find out more here.

25th European Social Services Conference
2017-06-26 - 2017-06-28 | Valletta, Malta
The 25th European Social Services Conference (ESSC) will take place in Valletta (Malta) on 26-28 June 2017 in cooperation with the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and organised by the European Social Network.
The 25th anniversary edition of the ESSC will explore how innovation and new practices can help local public social services tackle social exclusion.
Shape the agenda!
Throughout the conference, various organisations will get the chance to share innovative practices from across Europe through a series of workshops – and your organisation could be one of them! This is a chance to innovate, interact and inspire each other to develop new ideas and respond to common challenges.
They are particularly interested in receiving good practice examples of public/social/digital innovation which improves people’s life chances. More specifically, the conference will feature innovative initiatives on the following themes:

LOCAL PUBLIC MANAGEMENT INNOVATION (design, planning & financing)
DIGITAL & ICT-ENABLED INNOVATION
SOCIAL INNOVATION

Deadlines for submitting a workshop proposal in French, German, Spanish, Italian is 18 November, and in English, 25 November.
Click here for more information.

EAPN annual Policy conference: Learning from the past to beyond 2020 - What strategy to fight poverty?
2017-06-15 14:00 - 17:30 UTC
EAPN’s annual conference will be on 15 June, 14:00-17:30, under the title Learning from the past to Beyond 2020 – What EU strategy to fight poverty, exclusion and inequality?
The conference will be an opportunity to exchange together on the following questions:

What integrated strategy should the EU propose to effectively fight poverty? What can we learn from the past? What do people in poverty want and expect from the EU? How does this connect to the European Pillar of Social Rights?
How should this strategy be mainstreamed into a post 2020 strategy? Can the Sustainable Development Goals offer a better and more operational framework to take over from Europe 2020? Should this be through a re-vamped European Semester? Or another process?
How should we mobilize for this in the context of the Future of Europe?

It aims to:

Present ideas & messages from EAPN from an internal session of members, including input from people experiencing poverty;
Get feedback & debate with the European Commission & Council;
Get responses from other Civil Society Organisations & partners;
Give special attention to the SDG agenda; the follow up on the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the implications of the Future of Europe proposals, in trying to move forward for a transformative social and sustainable framework for beyond 2020.

Key speakers invited:

People experiencing poverty & EAPN members
Hugh Frazer, Coordinator ESPN and Professor from Maynooth University, Ireland
Ruth Paserman, Commissioner Thyssens’ Cabinet
Kaia Iva, Minister of Social Protection, Estonian Presidency
Nelson Muffuh, Chief of Staff to Deputy Secretary General of the UN
Representatives from Eurodiaconia, Eurochild, FEANTSA, ETUC, Semester Alliance
Marcel Haag, Secretariat General, European Commission

Practical details & participation
The conference will be from 14:00-17:30 in the ITUC, 5 Boulevard Albert Roi II, 1210 Brussels.
Participants: Around 70 EAPN members, including people with direct experience of poverty, and around 80 Brussels-based stakeholders.
For further information on content, contact Sian Jones (Policy Coordinator) sian.jones@eapn.eu, or on registrations Rebecca Lee (Information & Events Officer), rebecca.lee@eapn.eu | Tel. +32 2 226 58 50

Affordable Energy, a Basic Social Right - How to abolish Energy Poverty?
2017-05-29 10:00 - 14:00 UTC
A workshop will be held in the European Parliament, organised by Delegation DIE LINKE. (in the European Parliament); Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Brussels Office; Transform Europe Network.
The following topics will be discussed:
1) Ensuring the basic social right; safeguards against disconnection: how can access to affordable energy be assured;
2) Re-municipalisation of the grid and utilities: how can the fight against energy poverty be implemented;
3) How can community energy projects mitigate energy poverty;
4) How can people, affected by energy poverty, benefit from energy efficiency measures in buildings. How can we ensure that the renovation of existing buildings gives priority to energy-poor citizens.
Objectives of the workshop:
Exchanging ideas, formulation of concrete political demands;
Strengthening the network of stakeholders who have been working on this topic;
Building of political coalitions, discussion of possible strategies;
Promoting our political demands with regard to the ongoing political struggles on the legislative process on the clean energy package and the discussion on the European pillar of social rights.
Contact: Marlis Gensler, marlis.gensler(at)rosalux(dot)org

Public Hearing - Equal treatment, equality bodies and other possible means of redress for Roma
2017-05-19 09:30 - 13:00 UTC
The European Economic and Social Committee is holding a public hearing at their site in the European Quarter, Brussels, on “Equal treatment, equality bodies and other possible means of redress for Roma”.
Anti-gypsyism and discrimination are important barriers to Roma enjoying full rights and this hearing plans to map possible avenues for redress for Roma, including equality bodies. The event will allow for the exchange of best practices on how Roma can address violations of their rights.
For any questions related to the event please contact Ms June Bedaton by e-mail (june.bedaton@eesc.europa.eu) or by telephone (+32(0)2 546.81.34).
