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2010

2010 is the European year to combat poverty and social exclusion. A large series of events will be running around the UK to mark the year, and Need not Greed will be heavily involved throughout.

2010 Event - Tuesday 1st December: One Year, One Aim, One Voice

As a member of the European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) we helped organise a highly successful event for almost 200 people held in Stratford on 1st December, looking ahead to the year's activites. You can read reports from the event on the linksUK and Chain Reaction blogs. Photos are on the Need Not Greed Flickr album, and videos on our Youtube channel

2010 is the year of combating poverty and social exclusion in Europe:

Seventy eight million people live in poverty in the EU, amongst whom 19 million are in employment. Despite these shameful figures and in the light of the current financial crisis, not enough is being done. On the contrary, despite political declarations in many Member States and at EU level, the reality is that it has been more and more difficult to get serious political commitment and attention to the fight against poverty and social exclusion

declared Ludo Horemans, the President of EAPN

In this context, EAPN puts it straight: the upcoming EU 2010 Year for combating poverty and social exclusion must not be another shiny event but ensure a lasting legacy capable of delivering a decent life for all.

In order to do so, concrete actions are needed at EU level. These include the establishment of a Social Progress Pact to direct political attention to the need to put social cohesion and the fight against poverty at the top of the EU agenda and at the centre of the post Lisbon strategy. The EU must also ensure that all Member States make progress so that their Minimum income schemes are adequate for a dignified life

said Fintan Farrell, the EAPN Director.

 

 

 

From the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) Ireland asks whether the Lisbon Treaty will help or hinder social progress in the European Union.

For EAPN, the implementation and enhancement of existing EU anti discrimination legislation as well as the establishment of ambitious targets at EU and Member State levels to eradicate poverty in the EU by 2020 are also key.

These ambitious measures should go along with the developing of a new EU Community Poverty and Social Inclusion programme capable of supporting the EU Inclusion Strategy, while at the same time ensuring that EU Structural Funds deliver on poverty and social inclusion objectives.
The EAPN members are already working in solidarity with other actors, to identify what could be the legacy from the EU 2010 year at local, regional, national and EU level. EAPN will be vigilant to make sure that the EU 2010 Year doesn’t resume to nice empty words but does make a difference for the millions of Europeans living in poverty. Find out more here

DWP NEWSLETTERS FOR THE UK  2010 ACTIVITY: