1. Alliances to Fight Poverty Brussels, 16-17 September 2010 Mid Term review of EY 2010 Ludo Horemans president of EAPN ( www.eapn.eu )www.eapn.eu

2. EAPN Origins  Established in 1990  A network of independent NGOs involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion (within EU countries, mostly)  To defend the interest of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion in the development of EU policies and programmes 2

3. EAPN Membership and Financing  26 National Networks  23 European Organisations  Emerging Networks (Latvia, Iceland, Turkey…..)  Receives financial support from the European Commission (PROGRESS Programme) 3

4. Need to take opportunity from a dedicated EU Year  To build a real awareness of the causes of poverty and exclusion and hence the policies needed for Inclusion and eradicating poverty  Not speaking about combating poverty without speaking about wealth and redistribution as well 4

5. Key Messages  No significant progress on Poverty and Social Exclusion over the last 10 Years  Growth and jobs approach hasn’t reduced poverty and helped to widen inequality gap  Real progress depends on a new or renewed awareness of the need to tackle inequalities (income - wealth / access to resources, services and decision-making) 5

6. Lisbon Strategy Impact on poverty ?  17% of EU population at risk of poverty – 84 million people  No significant decrease since 2000 (15% in 2001, Old MS): increases in AT, BE, NL, UK and PL.  Higher poverty risk faced by women (17%), children (19%), older people (19%)  Inequality gap rising – lowest gaps in SE, SL, CZ, DK, FI, AT, LU and highest gaps in PL, LA, LI, PT.  In 2006, income of richest 20% nearly 5 times higher than income of the poorest 20%. 6

7. A right understanding of poverty and the fight against poverty  Poverty is a denial of fundamental rights – Poverty is mainly caused by the organisation of our society (  economic, financial, fiscal, housing, energie... policies)  An economy at the service of people and public interest – Guaranteeing an adequate income and achieving a fairer distribution of wealth. More equal societies are better for everyone/ growth without fair distribution won’t deliver on poverty  Mobilizing all policies – poverty cannot be solved by social policies alone / employment is not the only solution. 7

8. Europe 2020 – a step forward?  Social objective – Smart/green/ inclusive growth  5 headline targets with poverty target to reduce risk of poverty by « lifting at least 20 million out of poverty by 2020 »  Flagship programme – European Platform against Poverty : « to ensure economic,social and territorial cohesion, building on the current European Year of combating poverty and social exclusion (…) unabeling people experiencing poverty and social exclusion to live a life in dignity and take an active part in society »  A « transformed Social Open Method of Coordination (OMC) » – moving beyond cooperation and exchange to take concrete actions  Social Innovation programmes – education, training and employment support for deprived groups/fight discrimination.»  Adequat and sustainable social protection and pension systems and better access tp health care systems 8

9. EU Flagship Platform on Poverty – EAPN Proposals 1) Take a transformed (strengthened) Social OMC as the heart of a dynamic, participative EU platform, build up by national platforms against poverty, that deliver results 2) Progress on Social Standards – move towards EU frameworks to guarantee social rights. 3)Better financing – using EU instruments to support rights to services, demonstration projects and better participation/governance 4) Mainstreaming social objectives across Europe 2020, with social impact assessment at all policy areas 9

10. 1) Transform Social OMC (national level)  Strengthen the Social OMC to be the core of EU + National Platforms against poverty that deliver results National Level  National poverty platform/stakeholder forum meeting 4 times a year to develop, implement and monitor progress on a 3 year strategy. (building on experience of EAPN national networks !)  Participants : More link to regional and local level - local authorities and people experiencing poverty and NGOs  Tools and budget to support meaningful participation, with common methodology and minimum rules.  Annual Review and debate on progress based on scoreboard review of indicators – in National Parliament  Poverty Proofing all policy fields, to ensure do not undermine social goals. 10

11. 1) Transform the Social OMC (EU level)  Give Priority to ensuring implementation as well as mutual learning, involving NGOs and people experiencing poverty Key Proposals  DG Employment and Social Protection Committee and Ministers as driving force defending Social Europe.  EU stakeholder forum meets 3 times a year to review progress on EU and national targets and strategies, making recommendations to Member States and to Council – sanctions?  Key participants : Experts from national/regional level, social partners, and EU NGOs working with people experiencing poverty  People experiencing Poverty meetings to be strengthened and embedded in policy process with Round Table reviewing progress.  New EU thematic clusters/group to develop multi-annual EU strategies on key priorities: active inclusion, child poverty, housing exclusion/homelessness, migration and ethnic minorities, financial exclusion, energy poverty and access to quality services.  Sustainable financing to national networks to ensure NGO and people experiencing poverty engagement. 11

12. 2) Progress on Social Standards  Build on Lisbon treaty’s enhancement of social obligations: (enhanced social values, new horizontal social clauses, Charter of Fundamental Rights, coordinated action on social protection and social inclusion - Art 151 and 153 ). Key Proposals  Platform should evaluate effectiveness of current instruments  Develop road maps for developing common EU frameworks to guarantee basic social standards – common definitions, principles, criteria with national application.  Starting point – An EU framework directive to guarantee an adequate minimum income for a dignified life, at least at risk of poverty threshold ( 60% of median income), building on Council Recommendation of 92 and Commission Recommendation on Active Inclusion 12

13. 3) Better financing – access to rights, social inclusion and participation  Europe 2020 will target Structural Funds to objectives/targets but all EU financial instruments need to be mobilised… Key Proposals  Supporting rights to affordable universal services – particularly in poorer regions eg energy efficient social housing/quality childcare.  Demonstration/ innovative projects to support people into inclusion (active inclusion) – back social economy, ensure NGOs can access funding through improved technical assistance, global grant and pre-financing.  Financing sustainable participation of NGOs / National Networks and people experiencing poverty – at national and EU level 13

14. 4) Mainstreaming social objectives across EU 2020  Need to ensure that social objective is mainstreamed and not undermined by other EU policy goals and measures i.e bottlenecks to inclusion not just growth.. Key Proposals  Review social impact assessment of all policies  Mainstream analysis of social impact of crisis and exit strategies – especially cuts in public services  Ensure results subject of annual EP debate.  Platform to make recommendations from assessment to Council 14

15. Conclusions (www.eapn.eu  publications  policy papers)www.eapn.eu  Build on Social OMC to develop EU and National Platforms on Poverty as dynamic, visible partnerships to deliver on poverty  Shared ownership - building common solutions: put structured dialogue involving people experiencing poverty and NGOs at heart  Harness EU finances to deliver on rights, demonstration inclusion projects and sustainable financing for participation  Political commitment/ follow up essential but EU needs stronger enforceable instruments…  Make sure the rest of Europe 2020 and other policies don’t undermine poverty goals – starting with the Crisis! 15

16. Building cooperation in the fight against poverty www.eapn.eu www.eapn.eu 16