‘Learning from the past to beyond 2020, what strategy to fight poverty, social exclusion and inequality at EU level?’ and ‘how should this strategy be mainstreamed into a post 2020 strategy?’ were the key questions raised by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) in its policy conference on 15 June. Special attention was given to the European Pillar of Social Rights and the implications of the Future of Europe proposals.
Workshops organised with EAPN members, including people experiencing poverty, highlighted the need for an EU rights-based anti-poverty strategy based on participation and backed by EU funding and the concrete implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights with a key role for civil society.
EAPN insisted on the opportunity offered by the European Pillar of Social Rights in fighting poverty and inequalities in Europe and in rebuilding trust in the European project. However the organisation warned against the current tendency for the EU to stick to ‘narrow internal market priorities, with social priorities sidelined’.
The conclusions of EAPN’s event is in line with AGE’s reflection on the EU Pillar, on which we sent our recommendations in December 2016.