Following a campaign supported by EAPN, 2010 has been designated as the EU Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. The Year will aim to reaffirm the EU's commitment to making a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty and provide financial support (EU contribution of € 17 million) to a wide range of activities such as meetings, surveys, research and awareness raising.

Background to EAPN’s engagement with the Year

EAPN has been a key actor engaged with the EU’s Social Open Method of Coordination (Social Protection and Social Inclusion), since its inception in 2000, pressing for delivery on the EU’s commitment in the Lisbon Council in 2000 to make a decisive impact on poverty by 2010. As well as actively engaging with its national networks in National Action Plans on social inclusion, it has sought to influence the EU debate, both through the Social OMC and the broader Lisbon agenda.