First they came for the communists
and I did not speak up because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak up because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews
and I did not speak up because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was not a Catholic.
Then they came for me
and by then there was no one left to speak up.

Martin Niemöller

-----------------------------------------------------------------

OASI

The Amsterdam treaty identifies among the European Union the main objectives : the fight against both the poverty and the social exclusion.

In 2000, the Lisbon European Council established the Social Inclusion Process with the launch of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) with the purpose to make "a decisive impact on eradicating poverty by 2010".

The Open Method of Coordination (OMC) is a way to conciliate both the adoption of objectives and common working methods  , Europe-wide, with the subsidiarity principle and the aim to diffuse appropriate methods.  The MOC doesn't consist in an obligation but in a voluntary approach which encourages the Member States to adopt a strategic approach and complete all the social exclusion aspects and enables the whole process to be more visible, through the mobilisation of all the actors.

The Member States agree upon common objectives which are commuted in national and local politics, the National Action Plan, identifies common indicators, carries out an assesment between peers on the national politics (Peer Review) and exchanges experiences as well as appropriate practices (Common Action Program).  

Everyone deserves a decent life: Join the EAPN EU wide campaign for Adequate Minimum Income schemes!

24 out of 27 Member States have minimum income schemes in place at this present time, but there are serious flaws with their accessibility and their adequacy. It is time to state clearly that adequate Minimum Income schemes are a fundamental prerequisite for an EU based on social justice and equal opportunities for all!

Minimum Income can be defined as a non contributory income guarantee that enables people who cannot fend for themselves, to receive a minimum amount of monetary income.
Poverty is not only about money (see EAPN poverty explainer), but having sufficient money to live on is an essential pre-requisite for a decent life. Minimum Income schemes are also a corner stone of social protection. 
 In a framework of lack of progress in the fight against poverty there are 3 main reasons why EAPN wants to campaign now on Minimum Income:
Minimum Income schemes are not accessible to all today, and the levels are often too low to allow for a decent standard of living.

Minimum Income schemes are increasingly associated with compulsion and with a negative image of the poor, which undermines a key positive element of the European social model.

 EU level willingness to go further on the issue of minimum income is hindered by a lack of political commitment, but there is a window of opportunity to make progress with the ongoing ‘Active Inclusion’ process.

17 October 2007 saw the launch of a second Commission consultation about concrete proposals on how to move the ‘active inclusion’ strategy forward, including a new EU Recommendation, and a new tool to support its implementation. It will only be implemented if it is widely supported in the EU, and notably if Member States respond favorably to this proposal by the end of the consultation period (February 2008).

To see the continuation:  www.eapn.org/code/en/news_detail.asp

For the attention of the local Observatories or the observation structures.

The questionnaire for the attention of the local Observatories or the observation structures is online.

Help us to offer a better and a more efficient services filling in the questionnaire.