building confidence in a european dream
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Building Confidence in a European Dream. Input by: Fintan Farrell, Director, European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) Oslo, 12 January 2005. Areas of Input. Introduce EAPN Participation and Involvement of People Experiencing Poverty and Social Exclusion - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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