Answers to questionnaires received from 13 Networks. The answers are collated by question. This ensures that similarities emerge and differences are very clear.

  1. EAPN PT European Anti Poverty Network / Portugal
  2. EAPN Czech Republic
  3. Anti Poverty Forum of Malta (APF Malta)
  4. EAPN Poland
  5. EAPN Iceland
  6. EAPN Austria/ Die Armutskonferenz
  7. EAPN Sweden
  8. Velferdsalliansen/EAPN Norway
  9. EAPN Finland
  10. EAPN Denmark
  11. EAPN Germany
  12. EAPN Spain
  13. EAPN Estonia
  1. EAPN PT The Network has the following number of member organizations: 955 (605 NGOs and 350 individual members)
  2. The Network has the following number of member organizations: 18 (of which is 6 Networks)
  3. The Network has the following number of member organisations 13
  4. The Network has the following number of member organisations 30
  5. The Network has the following number of member organisations: 10
  6. The Network has the following number of member organisations 36
  7. ------
  8. The Network has the following number of member organizations: 27
  9. The Network has the following number of member organisations 33
  10. The Network has the following number of member organisations 11
  11. The Network has the following number of member organizations: 17
  12. The Network has the following number of member organizations: 19 regional networks and 16 National organisations
  13. The Network has the following number of member organizations: 24 members + 4 cooperation partners
  1. Sandra Araújo (; 00351 225420800/9)
  2. Karel Schwarz, email: , phone: +420-777716632
  3. . Saviour Grima 00356 21354464/00356 79617366
  4. Kamila Płowiec (; +48 22826 52 46)
  5. Judith Pühringer , Verena Fabris 0043 69919230389
  6. Sonja Wallbom, , phone: +46 739868104
  7. Johanna Engen +4793299510
  8. Outi Ruishalme_ outi.ruishalme(at)mielenterveysseura.fi
  9. Ole Meldgaard, +45 2032 2074
  10. Alexander Kraake (email: , phone: ++49 (0)30 85404-217)
  11. Patricia Bezunartea () , Jose Javier Lopez ()
  12. Nele Hendrikson +37256570525 or Kart Mere +3725110923

Priorities and current activities of your National Network

  1. What are the priorities of your Network at national level?
  1. EAPN PT:
  • Qualification of the 3rd sector (NGOs)
  • Lobby
  • Networking and social innovation to promote fight against poverty and social exclusion
  • Participation of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion
  • Research and development of projects in different areas of poverty and social exclusion
  • Awareness raising on poverty and social exclusion subjects
  1. EAPN CZ Rep
  • Social housing
  • Indebtedness (the so-called debt trap)
  • Tackling of unemployment together with housing, poverty and indebtedness of people
  • Equal opportunities (based on ethnicity, gender, age, income, etc.)
  • Social and legal protection of children (especially the excessive number of children living in institutional care)
  • Support for integrity families (so-called recovery of families)
  • Dependence on casinos , drugs and other addictive substances or activities
  1. APF Malta
  • Lobbying with the Government entities
  • Working with different NGO’s and Unions
  • Documents evolutions about poverty and meeting with Government Stakeholders
  • Part of the Sub Committees of discussions of 2020
  • National Strategy meetings
  • TV and Radios discussions about poverty and social exclusions
  • Seminars with other NGO’s and Union and with the Local Government
  1. EAPN Poland

We are focusing on building the network, straightening capacity of our member organizations, building relationships with other stake holders, mainly with public administration and trade unions.

  1. EAPN Iceland

Raising awareness and fighting poverty. Getting more active members involved across the country to carry on building and strengthening a national network.

  1. EAPN Austria

Lobbying in social policy and measures In the fight against poverty and social exclusion in Austria, biannual national conference on poverty in Austria with various focuses (health issues, equal distribution, wealth, commons…), press and media work (media award, press releases, newsletter…), organization of meetings of people experiencing poverty,

  1. EAPN Sweden

-Keep in contact with decision makers by lobbying and conferences.

-React on political invitations or proposals (the NRP etc…)

-Lobbying to implement the EU agenda on poverty and exclusion on National level, as it is not mentioned anywhere or been taken under consideration at all.

-Participate in “User´s Delegations” on National and regional level.

-Build an ongoing dialogue between officials, politicians and “users”. (“User” in a Swedish context meaning “users of different kind of social services”. Others may use the word “client” instead...) The dialogues are held on regional levels and once a year on national level.

-It is a big job organizing the dialogues as you will have to mobilize the decision makers as well as the users on all levels. To make the conferences meaningful you will also have to train the users and to make them feel that this is important and that the dialogues are an ongoing process that in the long run may change the politics. It is, on the other hand, the same problem to mobilize the decision makers, to make them understand the importance of involving themselves in this process. Our ambition is to make those conferences regular every year, both on regional and national level, and that we will have the economic support that is needed to make them.

  1. EAPN Norway

-Secure a rights-based minimum income in social welfare

-We demand that dental health should be included in the health care system

-Freeschool mealsandfreeactivitiesforall in school hours

-Housing with a social purpose

-Work for en increase user participation

  1. EAPN Finland

To influence government policies in order to decrease poverty and exclusion

  1. EAPN Denmark

The Danish NRP

Minimum income

Inequality

Employment

  1. EAPN Germany

Lobbying national social policy, main target audience being the German Parliament and the relevant ministries, discussion and coordination of common positions on all aspects of poverty, dissemination of information about poverty

  1. EAPN Spain

According to the 2010-2013 EAPN Spain Strategic Plan priorities are:

a) Influence politically against poverty and social exclusion

b) Achieve a relevant social presence, capable of communication and social mobilization

c) Strengthen organizational and participatory structure of EAPN-ES

d) Achieve representation and participation of NGOs and people experiencing poverty.

e) Actively participate in the structuring of the Third Sector in Spain.

f) Achieve a combined and coherent work at European, National and Regional level

EAPN Estonia

The last year’s focal topic – introducing problems related to relatives’ care, and looking for solutions – has been very productive activity and a good cooperation project. Result: a manifest has been written (EAPN Europe has also received it). Articles by the journalist, Tiina Kangro, have been extremely important for putting the topic on the agenda. A special TV serial ‘Puutepunkt’ (‘The Point of Touch’) on the Estonian National Broadcasting television.

A brochure prepared and published in cooperation with the Social Work Centre of Tallinn (they manage lodging houses for the homeless). And another public event conducted in cooperation with the same Centre in the Tallinn city centre: A Homeless People’s Night.

The biggest concern continues to be child poverty. This is a problem for both the children and their FAMILIES.

We have tried to give a lot of output to the media, supported with information and presentations, emphasised the issue of the need for free school meals (incl. summer soup projects, and the theme of morning porridge at schools). Meetings with political parties.

Within our Network, we have formed a work group for the protection of the best interests of the child.

As a Network, we have signed a Petition on equal rights.

Introducing the Europe 2020 Strategy in Estonia, as well as introducing documents of EAPN and other documents. ‘Explanatory memorandum on child poverty’ available in English on our website.

Promoting the idea of adequate minimum income.

Water campaign – water as a human right. Main message: a minimum amount of water that is requisite for life should be available for all for free. We gathered the required number of signatures. However, the idea as a whole did not gain enough popularity – we did not get as much attention as we expected.

Joint petitions with the Estonian Patient Advocacy Association, the Estonian Women’s Union and the Estonian Union for Child Welfare.

  1. What are you focusing the Network activities on?
  1. EAPN PT
  • Training (taking in consideration the needs of 3rd sector organizations);
  • Research (Informal Economy; Social Innovation; Roma Communities; extreme poverty);
  • Information (Thematic Newsletters; Publications and Magazine);
  • Projects (national and transnational on different areas of poverty and social exclusion and qualification of the 3rd sector);
  • National and Local Councils of people experiencing poverty;
  • Awareness raising within schools (Schools Against Poverty Initiative);
  • Workshops and Seminars on different subjects;
  • Participation on local and national platforms (lobby) (Social Networks; National Homeless Strategy; National Strategy for the inclusion of Roma Community; and so on);
  • Activities aiming employability (Protocol with the National Institute of Employment and Professional Training; Microcredit);
  • Thematic Groups (Child Poverty and Active Ageing);
  • Development of position papers on different subjects and social policies;
  • Lisbon Local Observatory on Poverty and Social Exclusion;
  • Awareness of civil society (Journey for Citizenship).
  1. EAPN CZ Rep
  • National Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty (annually since 2009, usually in March or April)
  • Preparation for the European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty including the participation of the Czech delegation in Brussels (annually since 2004)
  • Activities on the Day of the Fight against Poverty (annually since 2005): Happening in Ostrava (since 2006), Seminar or Round Table, media information, meetings with politicians)
  • Thematic expert meeting on combating poverty and social exclusion (annually since 2006)
  • Discussions (about 7-8 meetings per year from 2012) with representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, including meetings with the Minister (so-called Platform 10)
  • Participation of representatives of EAPN Czech Republic in the Commission for Social Inclusion of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
  • Analysis and assessment of the National Reform Programme (or similar documents of the Government of the Czech Republic)
  • Meetings with Members of Parliament of the Czech Republic (Deputies and Senators)
  • Seminars , workshops , conferences on combating poverty and social exclusion
  • Websites of EAPN Czech Republic (
  • The General Assembly of EAPN Czech Republic (annual)
  1. APF Malta
  • Strategy building
  • Seminars
  • Translations of documents
  • Awareness and lobby with Government and the Minister of Social Policy and Education
  1. EAPN Poland

Raising awards campaigns, seminars, meetings. We also try to involve PEP in our activities.

  1. EAPN Iceland

Establishing working groups and writing newspaper articles. Try to ensure that what has been achieved with the former government is not lost.

  1. EAPN Austria

See above

  1. EAPN Sweden

See above

  1. EAPN Norway

Lobbying,advocacyand user participation

  1. EAPN Finland

We have 4 task forces . Health and poverty, child poverty, social policy and pep taskforces. Each of them work in order to make papers , which are used in influencing politics and general public.

We also have co-operation with the church and the National Institute for Health and welfare, Finnish Association for Social and Welfare and the poverty network of the Finnish Parliament. We arrange seminars together seminars on different subjects connected with processes influencing in poverty and exclusion. This network is called Who listens to the poor.

  1. EAPN Denmark

Follow up on national poverty line

Social human rights

migration

Minimum income

Working poor

The Social Fund

  1. EAPN Germany

In 2013 the federal elections are the main political event, EAPN is disseminating a declaration and a position paper; further developing the new website; discussion about character, mission and structure of EAPN Germany; in general, achieving a better media coverage and improving the participation of people experiencing poverty

  1. EAPN Spain

Based on the above priorities , the Spanish Network focuses on the following activities:

a. Impact on social policies, through the NRP , the National Inclusion Plan and PEP meetings who decide social policy in our country at national and regional level .

b. Participation in all the forums related to the fight against poverty and social exclusion (National Council of NGOs, NGO Platform, Poverty Alliance , Third Sector Platform , Inclusion Network , etc.).

c. Communication and social awareness through seminars, activities , website, social media, etc. .

d. Preparation of reports and position papers.

e. Preparation and publication of informative materials.

f. Support regional networks and developing a program to support them.

g. Capacity – building Program throughout Spain: workshops, seminars and online.

h. Promoting the participation of people experiencing poverty at national and regional level.

i.Active participation in strengthening of the Third Sector for Social Action in Spain.

j. Participation in EAPN Europe in order to achieve a comprehensive work at three levels : regional, national and European.

  1. EAPN Estonia

Focus for this year: children and families in poverty. A free meal at school up to the end of gymnasium. A minimum package of services that is guaranteed by the government for families with children; the problem of unorganised school holidays.

Communication and custody.

Messages in cooperation with the media – vulnerable social groups should not be stigmatised! See the website of EAPN Estonia.

  1. Please include one activity of your Network, implemented in the past 12 months that you would evaluate as successful (give a short description)?
  1. EAPN PT

We have a lot of activities that could be highlighted; however we can refer particularly the training and capacity building work, during the last six months we have done more than 110 training actions, a total of 1095 hours of training and 2059 trainees. But also the participation on research projects like a national study on informal economy.

  1. EAPN CZ Rep

-National Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty (people living in poverty participate actively in tackling poverty and social exclusion, meet themselves to formulate their needs and requirements for combating poverty and social exclusion, appeal to politicians; 17 May 2013 attended by 48 people living in poverty)

-We have reached the amendment to the Law on Social Protection of Children, which better ensures the position of children in poverty and social exclusion

  1. APF Malta
  • During these few months we had the Election Campaign and as a network we decided to write to both Political Parties about the problem of poverty. Our proposals were written in both parties to combat poverty and social exclusions.
  • We were involved also in sub groups made by Government to study the situation of poverty and national strategy for 2020.
  1. EAPN Poland

We have been engaged in consultation of NRP and we build a coalition around it. The coalition consists of different partners (other ngo’s, trade unions, employers). Our voice is more heard and our remarks are more taking into consideration. The cooperation with that partners is very good and fruitful. The other success was our active participation in preparation National Programme Against Poverty and Social Exclusion.

  1. EAPN Iceland

The participation in the work that resulted in the report “Prosperity”. The aim of the effort was to gather information from the various entities that were approached and from reports and studies that have been made concerning poverty in Iceland, with the intention of formulating and submitting proposals on measures against poverty.

  1. EAPN Austria

Media award “bottom-up award” – this prize Is awarded to journalists in various media (online/print/TV/radio) who published in Austrian media on the topic of poverty and social exclusion. The jury consists of people experiencing poverty who decide and discuss the entries on the basis of special selected criteria such as respect, dignity, including views of PEPs, in-depth research etc….

This prize is awarded once a year in the week before Christmas in a special ceremony and begins to reach attention throughout Austria.

  1. EAPN Sweden

The last National Dialogue Conference was successful because:

  1. There were participants from the whole country representing different organizations, such as people out of work, mental problems, homeless, drug problems, ex-convicts etc.
  2. We managed to have 1,5 days training before the conference.
  3. The training was devided into different themes that the participants wanted to discuss with the politicians. Each group selected one member to take part in the dialogue and bring the message from the group to the decission makers.
  4. All parties, except one, from the Parliament were present.
  5. There were very positive reactions from the participants and many new contacts were made. Representatives from the Parliament promised to follow up on different issues that were raised.
  1. EAPN Norway

A two-daysocialForum inBergen.Topic:Housing,HealthandWelfarefollowed byameeting of allthecommitteesofVelferdsalliansenwhich dealtmainly aboutto start planningforthe legislative elections 2013 andhowto challengepoliticiansonissuerelated topovertyandsocial exclusion

  1. EAPN Finland

A seminar of Who listens to the poor –network in Finnish parliament in may about the gaps in social security benefits that cause problems for poor people.

  1. EAPN Denmark

EAPN.dk has worked for a national poverty line. This goal was achieved this year

EAPN.dk has become a member of the Contact Committee for the Europe 2020 strategy,

and a member of the Council for Human Rights

  1. EAPN Germany

EAPN Germany wrote a shadow report in 2012 in cooperation with a Berlin street magazine which got a lot of media coverage; meeting of people experiencing poverty

  1. EAPN Spain

There are several successful work experiences of the Spanish network that could be considered as successful. Highlight one of them and some others are named below:

Development of a job training and lobby on Structural Funds: In 2004, EAPN Spain decided that the task of advocacy should cover the Structural Funds, because of the potential for them to develop actions related to employability, innovation, equality between men and women and to promote relations and transnational alliances. Since then: