EAPN

The Fight against Homelessness: Solidarity in Action - FEANTSA 2017 Policy Conference
2017-05-18 13:00 - 2017-05-19 17:00 UTC | France
Our member organisation FEANTSA is organising their policy conference in May in Gdansk.
18th May 2017 (afternoon)
Site Visits to view services working with homeless people in Gdansk or Working Spaces on the following issues: drug use, women’s homelessness, youth homelessness, social rental agencies, homelessness in Russia, Housing First.
19th May 2017 (all day)
Main conference with two plenary sessions in addition to 3 streams of workshops, where delegates can choose from a selection of 14 workshops to attend
See full programme and registration details here. NOTE: deadline for registration: 1 May 2017.

Let´s prevent debt traps! Policies to tackle over-indebtedness across Europe
2017-05-11 08:00 - 17:00 | France
On 11th May 2017, Caritas Czech Republic, partner of EAPN, organizes a conference called “Let´s prevent debt traps! Policies to tackle over-indebtedness across Europe”. The topic of over-indebtedness has been chosen as a priority to work on based on the national Caritas Cares Report 2015. The event will take place in Prague.
In the Czech Republic, we have observed an increase of insolvency petitions submitted by individuals. One of the main causes of over-indebtedness is income poverty together with lack of financial literacy among the population. Another important cause is insufficient legal regulation of consumer loans making the customers unprotected. The problems are worsened also by excessive competencies of executors´ offices. In Caritas Cares Report 2015 for the Czech Republic, over-indebtedness was identified as a major issue in the area of poverty and social exclusion.
Experiences with issues of debt traps, over-indebtedness, executions on property and/or debt relief, and examples of functional policies and good practices from many countries will be shared.
Contact: martina.veverkova@charita.cz and iva.kuchynkova@charita.cz

The only way is up? Social mobility and equal opportunities - Joint OECD-Eurofound Conference
2017-05-04 | France
Eurofound and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are co-organising a joint high-level conference on social mobility and equal opportunities in Paris, France on Thursday, 4 May 2017.
The event will provide a lively platform to discuss fresh evidence on intergenerational mobility and policies which support upward mobility, especially among the disadvantaged population groups within the European Union and OECD countries. The event will be opened by Angel Gurría, Secretary-General, OECD and Juan Menéndez-Valdés, Director, Eurofound. EAPN France will be contributing.
Since the global financial crisis many people in a range of countries are facing a sharp fall in living standards and economic inequalities are on the rise. Consequently, policy attention is starting to shift towards addressing this lack of equal opportunities as well as the transmission of (dis)advantage across generations.
The one-day high-level conference will bring together an interdisciplinary group of international experts, policymakers and stakeholders from both OECD and EU countries to examine the major trends in social mobility and how these vary across countries. The sessions will consider why lack of mobility and intergenerational inequality is of concern and what policies work in the field of education, labour market, urban development, health and social protection to improve equal opportunities and social mobility. The concluding panel will aim to identify how a more integrated approach at different levels can underpin greater equality of opportunity and promote upward social mobility.
A draft agenda is available.
If you are interested in registering to attend please contact Jade.Baker@oecd.org or Bernice.Turner@eurofound.europa.eu

EAPN Portugal seminar on local authorities' role in combating poverty, Avintes
2017-05-03 | France
EAPN Portugal is organizing a seminar on the contribution and participation of the local authorities in combating poverty and social exclusion. It is intended that this event provide a broad discussion among civil society and the social sector, on the specific role of local authorities to accomplish this goal, taking into account the Local Governance agenda and Governance Models, and particularly focused on participation of the citizens.
Since its creation in 1991, EAPN Portugal has defended the principle of subsidiarity, which aims to ensure that decision-making is as close as possible to citizens. This principle is also enshrined in the foundations of the European Union and in the Treaties of Rome and Lisbon, as well as in the Manifesto prepared by the Working Group which produced the document published by EAPN Portugal in 2015 entitled “Commitment to a National Strategy to Eradicate Poverty.”
The conference will take place on the 3rd of May 2017, between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm, at the Parque Biológico de Gaia, Avintes. For more information: http://www.eapn.pt/eventos/1102/conferencia-nacional-o-poder-local-e-o-combate-a-pobreza

3 regional workshops in Ireland on the EU, its Parliament and the fight against poverty
2017-04-28 08:00 - 2017-05-26 17:00 | France
As the EU celebrates its 60th birthday, these regional workshops are the chance to discuss questions like:

How does Europe decide social policies?
What difference does this make to people affected by poverty?
How can we influence European policy?
Why is the EU in crisis?
What do Brexit and the rise of racism mean for the future?
How can we build a more inclusive Europe?

The Programme:

10am to 1pm: Training and discussion session on European social policy
1pm to 2pm Lunch
2pm to 3.30pm: Discussion with Member of the European Parliament

Where:

Dublin, 28 April
Sligo, 5 May
Waterford, 26 May

Register with this form, (contact enquiries@eapn.ie)

Mouths to feed? Food security & autonomy: a global approach (in French!!)
2017-04-25 13:30 - 17:00 | Rue du Ruisseau 17-19, Rue du Ruisseau 17-19, Molenbeek, Brussels, 1080, Belgium
La FdSS présent un séminaire ouvert organisé par le Cremis de Montréal dans le cadre du 18ème Atelier international de recherche et d’actions sur les inégalités sociales et les discriminations. Cet événement centré sur des questions d’alimentation et de pauvreté réunira des chercheurs et des professionnels du social du Québec (Université de Montréal, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et des services sociaux du Centre-sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Cégep du Vieux-Montréal, Cégep de Victoriaville), de Catalogne (Université de Barcelone), de Toscane (Université de Sienne), d’Alsace (Institut social supérieur de Mulhouse) et de Belgique (Fédération des Services Sociaux | Concertation Aide Alimentaire).
« Les interventions en «sécurité alimentaire» se font souvent dans l’urgence avec peu de ressources. Conséquemment et malgré elles, ces interventions peuvent contribuer à réduire les personnes à des « bouches à nourrir ». Le risque encouru est de reproduire le trait marquant des rapports sociaux inégalitaires producteurs de disparités de revenus et de conditions de vie : la réduction identitaire. Que ce soit vis-à-vis des personnes âgées, des mères monoparentales, des personnes bénéficiant de l’aide sociale, des membres de minorités ethniques ou racisées ou des personnes sans domicile, les traitements discriminatoires ont tendance à être fondés sur un regard réducteur qui ne voit que des traits négativement connotés. La personne peut disparaître derrière l’identité stigmatisée. Agir sur les rapports sociaux inégalitaires producteurs de la pauvreté requiert de passer à une approche globale où la personne est reconnue dans les multiples dimensions de sa vie. » Christopher McAll et al. (www.CREMIS.ca).

Information et inscriptions : christopher.mcall@umontreal.ca

Keeping food banks alive - Bridging the gap of food poverty in Europe
2017-04-20 - 2017-04-22 | France
The Annual Convention of the European Federation of Foodbanks (FEBA) will take place in Rotterdam (Netherlands) and will be organized in collaboration with the Dutch Federation of Food Banks, Vereniging van Nederlandse Voedselbanken.
Contact: cdiazlonborg.feba@eurofoodbank.org

‘Dignity & Well-Being: Exchange together for change’ SMES-Europa conference
2017-03-16 - 2017-03-18 | Lisbon, Portugal
SMES-Europa invites participants and their institutions, especially those involved in the social and health fields in favour of people living in extreme poverty conditions and suffering of mental health problems, to share experience, knowledge and competences at the XIV European SMES Conference which will take place in Lisbon on 16-17-18 March 2017: ‘Dignity & Well-Being: Exchange Together for Change’
Extreme poverty is increasing as well as people living on the streets in scandalous situations of absolute deprivation and with serious mental health problems.
The following two questions will be tackled during this conference:

HOW ARE THESE PEOPLE – home-less, health-less, hope-less, living on the streets in a permanent way – shelters – squats, – giving the impression that they refuse any institutional offer of assistance and integration, preferring their own habitat?

Through the analysis of their profiles (case studies) – meeting – listening – understanding – the attempt will be made to hear their voices and needs (cf. profiles 2016)

HOW YOUR SERVICE, co-working – together – with other sectors and services – can contribute to promotion of Dignity and Well-being, of the integration and participation of these excluded people?

Through the exchange and evaluation of innovative, integrate and coherent practices, the attempt will be made to promote programmes & projects for inclusive participation.
The results of the conference will depend on the exchanges. The statement, proposals and urgent priorities resulting from this conference, will be presented in May, at a hearing session in the European Commission and EU Parliament.
Each participant is invited to actively participate, by sharing their own experience and sending an abstract of one or more profile (following this protocol) and/or one daily practice that will be introduced and discussed in workshops. Please send these before 30 December.
See more information and registrations here.

Seminar hosted by EAPN & Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto (MEP S&D): Can the Semester help build a better Social Europe?
2017-01-12 09:00 - 13:00 | European Parliament, Brussels, 1047, Belgium
The event Can the Semester help build a better Social Europe? is jointly hosted by the European Anti-Poverty Network with Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto (MEP, S&D). The seminar aims to review how well the European Semester and Europe 2020 is working in terms of its delivery on social rights, poverty and participation and to debate what changes are needed to ensure progress towards a more Social Europe.
It comes at a timely moment with the adoption of the 2017 Annual Growth Survey and the European Commission’s upcoming proposal following the public consultation on the European Pillar of Social Rights.
The seminar will discuss stakeholders’ views and proposals from the national and EU level, including presenting EAPN’s 2016 Assessment of the National Reform Programmes: What progress for Social Europe? The 2nd round table will promote dialogue between the Rapporteurs for the relevant reports on the European Pillar of Social Rights and on the European Semester – the Annual Growth Survey – and key members of the European Commission and the audience.
See the latest programme here.

The event will take place from 9.30-1.00 on Thursday 12 January 2016 in the European Parliament – Room A3-HI. Tea/Coffee and water will be provided.
Please register here by 2 January. If you don’t have a EP badge please provide details of your name, nationality, date of birth and identity card or passport. Please come to the Luxembourg entrance from 9.00- with your ID card/passport – to be signed in to the event if you haven’t a badge.
For more information please contact: Sian Jones for content, and Rebecca Lee for practical arrangements/registration. And the post on this site here, which will be kept updated.

European Council Meeting
2016-12-15 - 2016-12-16, 2016-10-20 - 2016-10-21 | France
The European Council defines the EU’s overall political direction and priorities. It is not one of the EU’s legislating institutions, so does not negotiate or adopt EU laws. Instead it sets the EU’s policy agenda, traditionally by adopting ‘conclusions’ during European Council meetings which identify issues of concern and actions to take.
More recently, the European Council adopted a ‘strategic agenda’ of priority areas for longer-term EU action and focus.
The members of the European Council are the heads of state or government of the 28 EU member states, the European Council President and the President of the European Commission.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also takes part in European Council meetings when foreign affairs issues are discussed.
For more information, see the Council’s website.

Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
2016-12-08, 2016-10-13, 2016-06-16 - 2016-06-17 | France
The EPSCO Council brings together ministers responsible for employment, social affairs, health and consumer policy from all EU member states. Relevant European Commissioners also participate in meetings.
There are usually four EPSCO meetings a year. Two of the meetings are generally devoted exclusively to employment and social policy topics.
About employment and social policy
The overall objective of the EU action is to raise the standard of living and quality of life of its citizens, notably through high-quality jobs and a high level of social and health protection and the protection of consumers’ interests.
In the fields of employment and social policy, the Council is responsible for drawing up annual employment guidelines which the member states take into account in their national policies. It also adopts legislation, together with the European Parliament, aimed at improving working conditions, social inclusion and gender equality.
For more information on the EPSCO Council, see the Council’s website.

Energy Poverty Book-launch in the European Parliament
2016-11-29 13:00 - 14:00 | European Parliament, Room ASP 7F387, Brussels, Belgium
Energy poverty is a serious concern in our societies while more and more people realize that it should be a social right. The editors and the authors of the handbook are dedicated to share their knowledge and raise awareness about energy poverty in order to eliminate it from Europe once and for all.
Opening note: Tamás Meszerics – MEP Greens/EFA
Guest speakers and authors:
Filippos Anagnostopoulos – BPIE
Anna Bajomi – Programma Housing of the Compagnia San Torino
Audrey Dobbins – University of Stuttgart
Edit Lakatos – Housing Europe
Sian Jones – European Antipoverty Network
Closing remarks: Katalin Csiba – Editor
See the Poster online HERE.
Read the Book online HERE, on Tamas Meszerics MEP’s site.
Registration HERE.

Alter Summit Conference | Rights4All Now!
2016-11-25 - 2016-11-26 | Brussels, Belgium
The Alter Summit’s Conference Rights4All Now! on Social & Labour rights will be on November 25&26. Alter Summit is a European network of trade unions, social movement collectives, NGOs and networks willing to organise resistance to austerity and neoliberal policies at European level for the construction of a real democracy and alternatives.
The Conference and its workshops aim at becoming a working space to discuss convergences, strategies and to build a shared agenda. EAPN Policy Coordinator Sian Jones will speak at a workshop on services on Friday 25 November.
During two days of plenaries and workshops, there will be discussions on the urgency of an ecological transition, the digitalisation and internationalisation of productive processes, the political and social impact of migration and the necessity to defend commons and public services. They will exchange views about our struggles and practices across Europe and try to define common axes for action. They will also debate how to confront EU policies and institutions from the national and local perspectives.
For more info and the full programme, click here. To join a working group or register to the Conference, please send an email to sebastian@altersummit.eu or fill-out the online form.

The International Social Work Congress (ISWC16) at Hacettepe University.
2016-11-21 - 2016-11-23 | Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
The congress will be held by the Social Work Department of the Hacettepe University in Ankara, a division know to be a pioneer in social work education at undergraduate, MSW and PhD levels in Turkey.
The symposiums on social work have been held every year nationally since 1995, with the collaboration of the Association of Social Workers. This year, our congress takes the scale to an international level with a broader theme.
The Congress is organized with an aim to address the emerging need to explore the response of social work in local, national and international social problems. We hope to achieve this by focusing on the future of social work.

The purpose of this meeting is to bring academics, researchers, educators and practitioners to present their ideas on social work education, organization of social services, social policies, changing needs of vulnerable groups and service provisions, with a specific focus on the future of social work.
The confirmed keynote speakers are Professor Lena Dominelli and Professor Malcolm Payne from the UK and Professor Haluk Soydan from the US, who will inspire and empower all the attendees of the congress.

To know more about the Congress, visit the event website.

15th EU Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty - Empowerment through Participation!
2016-11-15 09:00 - 2016-11-16 14:00 | Les Ateliers de Tanneurs, Rue des Tanneurs 58-62, Brussels, 1000, Belgium
Empowerment through Participation – one of the challenges for the European Pillar of Social Rights!
The 15th European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty is organised by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) with the support of the EU Commission, the Slovakian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the EAPN Fund.
The twofold objective of this meeting is:

To provide opportunities for people experiencing poverty to share experiences, gain acknowledgement and build solidarity.
To arrange a consultation with people experiencing poverty on the European Pillar of Social Rights and the importance of Empowerment through Participation

WHO ARE THE MEETINGS FOR?
Invited National Delegations

People experiencing poverty who are starting to connect to anti-poverty organisations
Some previous delegates to help with continuity

Guests

Rep of National and EU level Institutions (Political and Functionaries)
Rep of NGOs, Social Partners, Academics and other relevant actors

General Public and Press

Some elements of the meeting are open to the General Public. The meeting can be followed on website (https://voicesofpoverty-eu.net/) and twitter #2016PEP

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS! – Could you help the voice of people experiencing poverty be heard in Brussels?!
Volunteers for whispering interpretation are needed. Delegations of people experiencing poverty from 31 countries in Europe (EU countries + Norway, Iceland, Serbia and Macedonia/FYROM) have prepared to exchange with EU officials and contribute to the debate. For all to be able to fully contribute to the debates, whispering interpretation is organised. We are looking for volunteers to interpret from English to all other languages mentioned above, and also from these languages into English.

If you are able to help us out, even if only for part of the programme, please contact Magda Tancau, magda.tancau@eapn.eu
Please spread this message widely! Thank you!
JOIN OUR COLLECTIVE ACTION AND SING ALONG!
We want to end this year’s European Meeting of People experiencing Poverty with a Collective Action outside the Berlaymont Building at Schuman (between 12.45 and 13.30 on Wednesday the 16th of November). We really want you to help with this action by joining us on the day and being part of our large choir to sing the song Blowin’ in the Wind as the delegations deliver their message.
Feel free to practice while in the shower or to get a group of friends together to practice and then join us on the day. Please see the lyrics and sheet here: http://sheetdownload.com/Bob-Dylan/Blowin-In-The-Wind/8925
If you are already part of a choir perhaps you can encourage members of the choir to join in! For those who can join we will have a rehearsal from 18.00 to 19.30 on Monday the 14th of November in Les Ateliers des Tanneurs, Rue des Tanneurs 58-62, 1000 Brussels (near South Station).

17 October 2016: International day for the eradication of poverty
2016-10-17 | France
Events around 17 October International Day for the Eradication of Poverty are planned all around Europe!!
SAVE THE DATE already and we will update the news item here with all the actions of our members!

SDG Watch Europe event launch
2016-10-13 18:00 - 2016-10-14 14:00 | Brussels, Belgium
The official launch of SDG Watch Europe, the new EU cross-sectoral alliance of civil society organisations working together to ensure implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015 by the United Nations.
To celebrate their first anniversary and the ambitious global agenda that was adopted a year ago, join us on 13 October 2016 at 6 pm for a reception hosted by the Nord Rhein Westphalia Permanent Representation in Brussels. The evening will feature a range of interesting speakers and informative presentations, followed by drinks and fingerfood.
The next day, the 14 Oct, we also warmly invite you to the plenary session of the SDG Watch Europe from 9am till 2 pm at the Amazon Centre. the objective of the plenary session of the Alliance is to involve all members and national CSOs representatives, in exchanging ideas on the Alliance’s next steps, its advocacy strategy as well as ongoing organizational issues.
To ensure your participation, please register before 5 October 2016.

The 2016 ISSA Conference: Early Childhood in Times of Rapid Change
2016-10-11 - 2016-10-13 | Unnamed Venue, Vilnius, Lithuania
The International Step by Step Association is organizing its 2016 Conference, which will explore the impact of the current economic, demographic and technological changes on the lives of children, families and practitioners, and will investigate ways to adequately meet the needs of our youngest citizens.
ISSA’s conference is a meeting point for practitioners, policy makers, researchers and representatives of civil society from across Europe, Central Asia and beyond. Through dialogue, discussion and interaction the conference will promote shared learning among participants and connect stakeholders in a dynamic learning community.

The conference will revolve around three main topics:

Strand 1: Meaningful Learning for Children
Strand 2: Meaningful Preparation on the Workforce
Strand 3: Meaningful Support for the Families
Strand 4: Meaningful Use of Technology

Click here to open the website to know more about the event and register!

Launch of the Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection to achieve the SDGs
2016-09-21 | New York, United States
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Bank Group, together with other leading development agencies, will come together during the 71st session of the UN General Assembly to present the Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection. The official launch of the new Global Partnership follows the June 2015 agreement by the ILO and the World Bank Group to promote universal social protection as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The launch of the new Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection will showcase evidence from more than 20 countries who have achieved universal social protection coverage and present the different approaches available to make universal social protection an achievable objective as part of every Member State’s plan to realize the SDGs.
Join the event online!

National Stop TTIP & CETA day!
2016-09-20 16:30 - 19:00 | rue de la loi, brussels, Belgium
16:30 – Gathering together
17:00 – Demonstration
18:00 – Giant flashmob
19:00 – Alternative party
@Rue de la Loi, Brussels

How to take action?
– Share the Facebook event
– Use these stickers/posters/flyers
– Join the flyering day 13 September in the SNCB stations by applying here
– Change your Facebook profile.
– Help on the day: tim.vandewiele@stopttip.be
– Question your MEPs on CETA! Elliminate the secrecy around CETA!

Register now for the 2016 Eurochild Conference!
2016-07-05 - 2016-07-07 | Palace of Academies, Rue Ducale 1, Bruxelles, 1000, Belgium
Eurochild, together with Kind en Gezin and Office de la Naissance et de l’Enfance are cohosting the conference “Children’s Rights Matter: Why Europe needs to invest in children”. It will be the first event to bring together children and young people with practitioners, policy makers and politicians. This will give the youngest members of society a platform to express their opinions and make their voices heard.
The Eurochild conference Children’s Rights Matter: Why Europe needs to invest in children, aims to take stock of progress, address on-going challenges, share good practice, and bring together different perspectives. Conference participants, both young and old, will learn and reflect on how policies and services promote the rights of all children in the five sub-themes: education, early years, health promotion, family strengthening, social protection and welfare support. For each of these themes we will focus on three target groups of children: children in poverty, children on the move or affected by migration, and children in care or in risk of going into care.
Why should you attend?

3 days of interactive learning opportunities and discussions with politicians, policy makers, practitioners and children and young people
3 target groups in focus: Children in poverty; Children on the move or affected by migration; Children in care or in risk of going into care
5 sub-themes: Education; Early years policies; Health promotion; Family strengthening; Social protection and welfare support
More than 14 services for children and families open their doors to participants
More than 13 workshops to discover promising practices around education, health, families and social protection
Be part of a unique experience of reflecting on children’s rights, with children.

Here is a list of some of the speakers who will be attending the event:

Elke Sleurs: State Secretary for Combating Poverty, for Equal Opportunities, for Disabled People and for Science Policy, Belgium
Gianluca Esposito: Head of Equality and Human Dignity Department, Council of Europe
Ioannis Dimitrakopoulos: Head of Equality and Citizens’ Rights Department, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Margaret Tuite: Coordinator for the Rights of the Child, European Commission
Bruno Vanobbergen: Flemish Children’s Rights Commissioner, Belgium
Valeriu Nicolae: Children’s rights and Roma activist, Romania
Cath Larkins: Co-Director of the Centre for Children’s and Young People’s Participation, University of Central Lancashire

REGISTER NOW!
Click here to read more about the event on Eurochild’s website, download the full programme of the conference here and click here to find out more about the children’s involvement in the project.

European Council Meeting
2016-06-23 - 2016-06-24 | Unnamed Venue, Brussels, Belgium

EAPN's annual policy conference 2016! Please register here
2016-06-16 13:00 - 18:00 | Crowne Plaza hotel, 3 rue Gineste, Brussels, 1210, Belgium
From the Delors White Paper (1993) to the EU Pillar of Social Rights (2016), what future for the fight against poverty
EAPN’s response – building on 25 years combating poverty, inequality and exclusion
EAPN with hold its conference on Thursday 16 June 2016 to provide a concrete and timely input to the key European Commission consultation on a European Pillar of Social Rights. EAPN will provide its experience and insights into how such a Pillar could complement or build on the existing strategies such as: Europe 2020 and the European Semester and the Social OMC.
The potential of the Pillar of Social Rights will be reflected upon, and links to the future role of the EU in the fight against poverty and social exclusion will be explored.

Context
On March 8 2016, the European Commission launched a public consultation on a European Pillar of Social Rights. This was announced by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in September 2015, and is part of a greater initiative to strengthen the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), and, implicitly, its social dimension, by ensuring upward social convergence between Member States.
The initiative is targeted at the Eurozone, aimed at strengthening the Economic and Monetary Union, but other Member States can join if they want to. The reasoning is the strong economic interdependence in the Euro area. The legal nature of the Pillar is to be defined, as it will involve a number of different tools of a diverse nature, according to the content, subsidiarity principle, and overall legal EU framework.
Commitments in the consultation on the Pillar of Social Rights, come under three headings:

equal opportunities and access to the labour market: skills, active labour market policies, improving employability, supporting transitions;
fair working conditions: achieving balance between flexibility and security, facilitate job creation, promote social dialogue;
adequate and sustainable social protection and access to high-quality essential services: childcare, healthcare, long-term care, to ensure dignified living and enable professional and social participation

Participants: Around 70 EAPN members will participate from the national level, including people with direct experience of poverty, plus some European Organisation members of EAPN, and around 80 Brussels-based stakeholders.
Provisional Programme
The programme can be accessed here (PDF).
Key speakers
Allan Larsson, Special Adviser for the European Pillar of Social Rights
And speakers from the European Parliament, and other civil society actors and people with direct experience of poverty.
How to register
Register for the conference via this link by 10 June.
Key related documents

Overall webpage of the initiative
Communication on Launching the Consultation on the European Pillar of Social Rights
Annexes:
– Annex: A European Pillar of Social Rights – First preliminary outline
– Staff Working Document: Key economic, employment and social trends behind a European Pillar of Social Rights
– Staff Working Document: The EU social acquis
The public consultation, including the questionnaire
– Press release
– Questions & Answers
– Factsheet – European Pillar of Social Rights

Contact
Contact the Acting Director Mr Fintan Farrell for information on the event’s programme and the issue: fintan.farrell@eapn.eu
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.

The Seminar “What Future for Social Europe?” on the impact of the UK Referendum on Poverty and Social Exclusion
2016-06-14 09:00 - 13:00 | Glasgow Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street , Glasgow, G2 3NY, United Kingdom
EAPN UK and the Poverty Alliance will organise a seminar to discuss the future of social policies at EU level and the impact of a UK referendum on the fight against poverty.
The event will focus on whether the goals of poverty reduction and social justice are best served with the UK remaining part of the EU, and highlight what is understood by “Social Europe”, in a time when the effects of the 2008 economic crisis still reverberate across the continent.
The session will open with Robin Hanan, Director of the European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland. After that, selected speakers will contribute with short inputs on some of the main challenges currently faced by the EU: the refugee crisis, creating an equal Europe, and the fragile state of employment across the Union.
During the second session, a debate will be held between those in favour of the UK EU membership and those against, giving the audience the opportunity to actively participate in the discussion.
This seminar is FREE and open to all. Click here to register and know more about the event.

The 2016 FEAD European Conference
2016-06-02 - 2016-06-03 | France
On June 2 and 3 EAPN will contribute to the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived European Conference titled The FEAD Network: Sharing Knowledge, Finding Synergies to Break the Vicious Circle of Poverty and Deprivation to share the network’s experience in the field and disseminate the key findings of the latest publications.

The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) supports EU countries’ actions to provide material assistance to the most deprived. This includes food, clothing and other essential items for personal use, e.g. shoes, soap and shampoo.
Material assistance needs to go hand in hand with social inclusion measures, such as guidance and support to help people out of poverty. National authorities may also support non-material assistance to the most deprived people, to help them integrate better into society.

EAPN’s Acting Director Fintan Farrell will speak at session F panel The way forward for the FEAD Network.
EAPN is part of the FEAD network and contributes to the project by performing following tasks:

Structuring the themes and tools for exchange of experience, capacity building and networking in relation to the FEAD Fund and the establishment of the FEAD Platform
Ensuring online presence of FEAD (web pages and electronic networking tools)
Organising Network Events
Collection of good practices
Expert and logistic support

Click here to visit the FEAD website for more information and here to see the draft programme of the conference.

EAPN Participates to Round-table meeting with the United Nations Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights
2016-05-30 16:00 - 2016-06-03 19:00 | France
EAPN will participate to a round-table meeting with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) to discuss impact of the financial crisis on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights in EU countries. The event will reunite representatives of European civil society networks and organizations.

The visit to Brussels will result in the publication of an official report to the UNOHCHR to complement the latest report on the effects of the financial and economic crisis within Greece on social and economic rights (A/HRC/31/60/Add.2). It is also intended to reflect more broadly on lessons learned from European countries which have completed adjustment programmes and are currently under post-programme surveillance, such as Cyprus, Ireland, Spain and Portugal.

The visit will focus on the following issues:
• Human Rights obligations of European institutions and European States in relation to economic reform and austerity policies implemented in Eurozone countries;
• Human rights impact of recent economic adjustment programmes implemented in Europe to overcome the sovereign debt crises (Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and other countries under post-programme surveillance) with particular focus on the economic, social and cultural rights, e.g. right to work, social security, health, education and adequate housing;
• Human rights impacts of the financial crisis and of the economic adjustment measures on individuals and groups in situation of vulnerability, such as persons with disabilities, refugees, migrants, members of minorities, unemployed, highly indebted persons, children, the elderly, and women;
• Efforts undertaken by .European institutions to prevent negative social and human rights impacts in past and current adjustment programmes and to ensure non-discrimination in their implementation;
• ) Main lessons learned from the implementation of economic reform programmes in the different countries (success stories, unintended side-effects and failures) in particular in relation to the enjoyment of human rights;
• The right to participation, transparency and accountability in contexts of economic reform policies supported by European institutions;
• Other topics related to the mandate of the Independent Expert.

Click here to know more about the objectives of the visit and background information about the work of the Independent Expert.

Youth Partnership Symposium ‘(Un)Equal Europe? Responses from the youth sector’
2016-05-30 - 2016-06-02 | Unnamed Venue, Budapest, Hungary
The Symposium ‘(Un)Equal Europe? Responses from the youth sector’ will take place in Budapest to explore the range of social, geographic and economic inequalities that young people face in today’s Europe and develop solutions through a dialogue between practitioners, researchers and policy makers.
The event will also highlight some of the personal experiences of individuals who have encountered structural and contextual barriers to inclusion and discuss the impact of the most recent refugee migration fluxes on the youth sector.
The Objectives of the symposium are:

To discuss and disseminate the knowledge on inequalities, participation and social exclusion concerning young people in Europe;
To share good practice in youth work and youth policy relevant to the key questions of the Symposium;
To identify challenges and research gaps, draw conclusions and formulate recommendations, as well as to propose models of youth policy and youth work interventions;
To support knowledge-based youth policy and practice for fighting against inequalities through networking, dialogue, and peer learning;
To connect youth, policy-makers, practitioners and researchers.

Mr. Fintan Farrell, Acting Director of EAPN Europe, will speak about youth poverty in Europe at the event, at which about 80 to 100 experts representing the various fields of policy, research and practice will participate.
For more information on the EU-CoE youth partnership, please see their website.
