The EU we want – Report of the EAPN Conference on the occasion of the Austrian Presidency of the EU, Vienna, 8-9 June 2006

The EAPN Conference ‘The EU We Want’, which took place on 8-9 June 2006 on the occasion of the Austrian Presidency of the EU, sought to build on the 3rd EAPN Book of the same title published earlier in the year. It marked a significant attempt by EAPN to involve its membership in a participatory process to inform and develop its future work programme and the philosophy of the network.

The report presented here starts by setting out the context in which this meeting was held, what the aims and methodology of the event were and why these were chosen. The content of the EAPN Book is also set out. It is shown that the meeting came at a time when it was considered a priority of the network to ensure it was genuinely being led by the voice of the membership in its political activities.

The main body of the report is then devoted to the results of the discussions and the key emerging messages. Three themes were identified as key for the future development of the network and these are set out in some detail:

The need for a more proactive approach: ‘Attack!’

Strengthening the legitimacy of the network

Issues around redistribution of wealth

Beyond that, specific ideas and recommendations emerged in previously identified areas:

1. Definitions of Poverty 2. Participation 3. Discrimination
4. Political Processes 5. Universal public services 6. Globalisation

Other policy areas were also covered to varying degrees of depth. This report attempts both to summarise the key messages emerging from the discussions and represent the diversity of opinions and voices expressed.

As well as the policy messages, there was a lot of strategic thinking, which saw the following Key Strategic Messages for EAPN emerge:

The meeting was a great success: it allowed for genuine participation, raised important issues and brought the network together. It should be a model for future events.
EAPN needs to adopt a more proactive, less reactive approach – the word ‘attack’ was a focus for this feeling and participants were keen to develop a campaign approach.
EAPN still needs to develop a clearer shared vision to
inform its work at all levels.

In developing this vision, EAPN should reconsider its positions in light of enlargement, including of its own membership, to the new Member States.

EAPN can improve its legitimacy by better involving people experiencing poverty at all levels within the network and going back to its origins.

The issues of wealth, redistribution and inequalities are central to what EAPN should be talking about. EAPN can consider itself to be first and foremost ‘anti greed’.
EAPN needs to develop a robust approach and engage effectively in economic arguments with relevant economic actors to challenge conventional wisdom.

EAPN should make more effective use of strategic alliances with other groups and other actors to work on specific issues of common interest. In doing so it should also seek to develop its knowledge by increasing its links with research.

There is a crucial role for EAPN in challenging preconceptions of poverty and people experiencing poverty amongst decision-makers and the general public.
EAPN needs to develop and promote a definition of poverty that is both understandable to the range of political actors and able to represent the reality of people’s lives.

EAPN: Publications http://www.eapn.eu/content/view/6/31/lang,en/

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