1. EAPN’s Analysis – Framework on Poverty
POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION – 27/09/2012
POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION
EAPN’s Analysis – Framework on Poverty
Sian Jones, EAPN Policy Coordinator

2. EAPN’s General Framework on Poverty
POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION – 27/09/2012
EAPN’s General Framework on Poverty
Why we’re discussing it?
What is poverty?
How is it caused?
How is poverty measured?
What do we want and what do we do about it?

3. Why are we discussing it?
POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION – 27/09/2012
Why are we discussing it?
Challenging times/ new members/
New Strategic Plan affirms our goals and values
But how far is vision shared? What problems?
Do we need to adapt or develop new messages?
How can we build a common vision for action? .

4. POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION – 27/09/2012
What is Poverty?
Lack of consensus driven by political priorities: reduce number considered poor?
Absolute or Relative poverty? access to basic services or excluded from equal participation.
Poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon where both absolute/relative have role to play
Link between growing inequality and poverty
Capture better the reality of poverty? .

5. POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION – 27/09/2012
How is Poverty caused?
Structural v Individual: blaming the ‘poor’ ?
« Persistence of poverty in wealthy EU suggests poverty is primarily a consequence of the way society is organized + resources allocated »
Unequal distribution/redistribution of income, wealth, access to rights, resources and services
Additional « at risk » factors – key target groups
Exclusion from participation .

6. How is Poverty measured?
POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION – 27/09/2012
How is Poverty measured?
Reflects debate on definitions/political priorities
Relative: at risk of poverty- 60% median household disposable income
Absolute: 2 dollars a day; (severe) Material Deprivation – lack of access to basic services etc
Social OMC – Broader set of indicators to reflect multidimensionality of poverty
Europe 2020 poverty target narrows debate? .

7. POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION – 27/09/2012
What do we want?
Everybody has a right to a dignified life
More equal societies do better
Adequate income – living wages + adequate minimum income/social protection
Universal access to public services - affordable health, education, housing, social services etc..
Right to access quality work, through Active Inclusion
Fairer Society – redistribution + tax justice, fighting inequality and anti-discrimination
Participation and Empowerment at heart .

8. POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION – 27/09/2012
What role for the EU?
Safeguarding or undercutting our social model?
EU Legal basis for framework of social rights and standards but subsidarity??
EU Social Open Method of Coordination working towards Common Social Objectives+promoting mutual learning
Europe 2020: driving delivery on poverty/ social targets?
Or driving a neo-liberal economic model, dismantling welfare states through economic governance? .

9. POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION – 27/09/2012
What can we do?
Work with people experiencing poverty to develop solutions and organize for change.
Engage in civil dialogue to develop effective EU/national anti-poverty strategies…
Raise awareness and visibility of reality of poverty and impact of current policy
Exchange/Mutual learning
Campaign+Alliances for alternative models .

10. Contact Sian Jones, EAPN Policy Coordinator
POVERTY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
BUILDING A COMMON VISION FOR ACTION – 27/09/2012
For More Information
Contact Sian Jones, EAPN Policy Coordinator
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