EAPN’s work on quality jobs and employment and campaigning

1. EAPN Decent Work Task Force Amana Ferro Policy Officer, EAPN Secretariat EAPN’s work on quality jobs and employment and campaigning EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DES ASSOCIATIONS DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE

2. Overview of the Presentation • EAPN and the European Employment Strategy • EAPN’s products and deliverables on decent work • EAPN’s campaigning track record • Policy Hooks and Opportunities – EU and national level

3. EAPN and the European Employment Strategy Qualityemploymentis a route out of povertyfor thosewhocanwork. • Involved in monitoring the EES sinceits adoption in 1997 (Amsterdam Treaty), and throughoutitssubsequent incorporation in the LisbonStrategy and the Europe 2020 Strategy; • EmploymentWorking Group of EAPN up to September 2011 – meeting three times a year, one representative / national network • See a brief description of the EES here. • See a summary of EAPN’s involvement here. • SeeEAPN’smainemploymentconcernshere.

4. EAPN’s products and deliverables on Employment • EAPN Explainer on Quality Work and Employment (upcoming, 2013) • Lifeboat or Life Sentence? Report on the Troika and emergency assistance programmes and their impact on poverty and social exclusion, December 2013 (upcoming). • EAPN, Working and Poor – Position paper on In-Work Poverty, November 2013. • EAPN NRP Reports: 2013 – Widening the Gap(Chapter 3); 2012 - An EU worth defending(Chapter 3); 2011- Deliver Inclusive Growth(Chapter 3). • EAPN10 Principles on Quality Work(2011) • EAPN Video:Pathways to Work (2011). • EAPN Response to the Joint Employment Report: 2011; 2010; 2009(not done in 2012; upcoming in 2013). • EAPN Anti Poverty Mag Quality of Work for Quality of Life(2011). • EAPN Book:Active Inclusion: Making It Happen!(Chapter 4) (2010). • EAPNresponse to A European Agenda for New Skills and Jobs(2010). • EAPNposition on Skills and Mobility(2009).

5. EAPN Campaigns – Minimum Income • 2007-2009 • Posters, postcards, campaign guide; • Supportingdocuments– leaflet, Myths and Realities; • Website - www.adequateincome.eu; • Appeal signedbypersonalities and notonly; published in thenational and European media (all EU languages); • European conference - Laying the Foundations of a Fairer Europe – Ensuring adequate minimum income for all - 2010 • Proposalfor a Framework DirectiveonMinimumIncome – legal study, draftDirective, accompanyingdocuments, garneringpoliticalsupport • More details: http://www.eapn.eu/en/what-we-do/our-campaigns/join-the-eapn-campaign-for-adequate-minimum-income-schemes Challenges: • Unevenresources in nationalnetworks; • Differentnationalsettings / priorities; • Lack of mobilisationafter 2010;

6. EAPN Campaigns – EU Money for Poverty Reduction NOW! • 25% of the Cohesion Policy budget to the European Social Fund (ESF), and 20% of the European Social Fund to poverty reduction and social inclusion; • SupportingtheCommission’s position, alsobackedbytheEuropeanParliament; • LargeBrussels-based NGO coalition; • Petitionpicked up byAvaaz (13.000 signatures); extensive use of social media; • Leaflet and campaignmaterialstranslated in 8 languages; • More details: http://www.eapn.eu/en/what-we-do/our-campaigns/eu-money-for-poverty-reduction-now Challenges: • Lack of resources at thenationallevel (including time); • Technicaltopic, notalwaysrelevant, hardtogetownership • Closelytiedtoan EU calendar, difficulttoalwaysfollow.

7. EAPN Campaigns – Water is a Human Right • EAPN was one of the 9 leading organisation, but not the initiatior (which was EPSU). • 1,547,859 signatures online and around 315,000 on paper, nearly double the 1 million target • EAPN ensured visibility and tried to mobilise its members through the Flash, the AntiPoverty Mag, and social media; • More details: http://www.right2water.eu/news/press-communication-%E2%80%9Cwater-human-right%E2%80%9D-will-submit-certificates-16-million-signatories • Challenges: • Issue did not have the same relevance for all countries;

8. EAPN Campaigns – European Parliament Elections 2014 • Objective: obtaincandidates’ commitmenttochange and to social Europe, basedon human rights. • Strong media action and campaigning materials targeting them, promoting alliance working. • EAPN national networks: raise awareness at the national level and encourage people to vote and enageg. • Campaigning elements: manifesto + pledge + postcard; • Communication: dedicated blog; social media; page on EAPN website; printed and audio-visual press; press releases; Flash; special EAPN Mag; visual identity; templates; press releases. Challenges: • Europeansdon’twantto vote anymore • Variedaudience: candidates, voters, media, etc.

9. Policy Hooks and Opportunities – EU and national level • Europe 2020: Influencing National Reform Programmes, National Social Reports, Country Specific Recommendations, the European Semester – based on the employment target. • Mid-Term Review – of Europe 2020 Guidelines and targets, maybe even Flagship Initiatives. • European Parliament elections – incorporating demands into the campaigning, forging better relationships with national / EU politicians; • New European Commission, including Commissioner on Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion; • European Commission revision of the concept of quality work – ongoing in the Employment Committee. • Strengthen alliance-building on the ground, particularly with trade unions and similar organisations.

10. Thank you for your attention! For more information: Amana Ferro, Policy Officer amana.ferro@eapn.eu or visit www.eapn.eu EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE SQUARE DE MEEUS, 18 – 1050 BRUSSELS TEL: 0032 2 226 58 50 – FAX: 0032 2 26 58 69 www.eapn.eu - team@eapn.eu