The European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) is promoting the campaign “EU Money for Poverty Reduction NOW!” calling for increased funding to help reach the EU2020 poverty targets. Its starting to gain traction with other European networks with PICUM electing to sign up to the campaign.

To fight poverty, the Commission proposed to allocate 25% of the Cohesion Policy Budget to the European Social Fund (ESF), and to secure 20% of this Fund to social inclusion and poverty reduction. There is a real risk that many national governments may reject the proposal due to the current economic climate.

The objective of campaign is to ensure that at the next round for allocation of Structural Funds, 25% of the Cohesion Policy budget will be allocated to the European Social Fund (ESF) and that 20% of that fund be allocated to support actions and initiatives to combat, address and tackle poverty and social exclusion.

EAPN is encouraging organisations and individual to sign the campaign, to meeting other national and international civil networks to promote common actions, sharing information and to contact national parliament representative to urge them about this important theme.

For more information and to sign the petition, please click: http://www.eapn.eu/images/stories/docs/campaigns/leaflet-campaign-eapn.pdf