Building Confidence in a European Dream

Input by: Fintan Farrell, Director, European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN)Oslo, 12 January 2005

Areas of Input

Introduce EAPNParticipation and Involvement of People

Experiencing Poverty and Social ExclusionAccess to the Labour Market for People

experiencing disadvantage.Building Confidence in a European Dream

Introduce EAPN

EAPN was established in 1990EAPN is an independent coalition of non

governmental organisations involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion

Membership of EAPN: – National Networks– European Organisations

EAPN is supported by the EU Commission

Aim of EAPN

EAPN aims to put the fight against poverty and social exclusion at the top of the EU political agenda.

Key Concerns:– Access to Fundamental Rights for all– Multi dimensional nature of Poverty– Participation and Partnership

EAPN is:

– An Exchange Platform

– An Information Platform

– A Lobby Platform

Key areas of concern for EAPN:

– The EU Inclusion Strategy – National Action Plans on Inclusion

– The EU Employment Strategy – National Action Plans on Employment

– EU Structural Funds– EU Enlargement– EU Development: Constitution, Lisbon Agenda

etc.

Cross cutting themes:

– Discrimination and poverty (Gender and ethnicity)

– Participation of People Experiencing Poverty and Exclusion

– Globalisation and Poverty

Some successes of EAPN:

– Articles 136-137 Amsterdam Treaty– EU Inclusion Strategy– Better Recognition of the role of NGOs in

Structural Funds and to a lesser extent in the EU Employment Strategy

– Better recognition of the right of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion to participate

– A strong platform for exchange and information (www.eapn.org)

Participation of People Experiencing Poverty

Factors Enabling a Participatory Process:– The Development of Independent Groups,

Associations and Networks – The Openness of Authorities and Policy

Makers– Societies that value the participation of all– The achievement of outcomes

Participation of People Experiencing Poverty ctd

Factors hindering the Participatory Process:– Dysfunctional Groups, Associations and Networks– Authorities and policy makers who fail to

recognise the multi dimensional nature of poverty and exclusion.

– A society that fails to recognise the realities of poverty and social exclusion or who are just content with a ‘charitable’ response.

Access to the Labour Market

Council of Europe Report on Employment for Marginalised Groups 2004

Key Elements of Good quality Services to improve access to the Labour Market:– Organisation of Services– Coordination and Integration of services– Assessment of needs of people who are

marginalised– Ongoing support or follow-up for people who are

marginalised

Access to the Labour Market ctd.

Key elements continued:– Mentoring and Advocacy– Monitoring and Evaluation– Partnership– Participation of users and people excluded

form the labour market– Equal opportunities

A European Dream

What is the European Dream in which we would want to see Confidence?– High Levels of Social Protection -

Universally Accessible– Quality Employment– Economically competitive

Steps towards restoring confidence in such a dream:

Ensuring a balanced EU AgendaTaking the EU Inclusion Strategy Seriously Implementing a strong EU Equality

StrategyMainstreaming the fight against poverty

and social exclusionEstablishing a European Union Year

against Poverty and Social Exclusion

From a dream to a reality

Revisiting the question of wealth distribution

Establishing European Union Standards for Social Protection and for fighting Poverty and Social Exclusion

EU DirectiveEthical Model of Development