8th European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty

Brussels will host this regular event of the spring Presidencies on 15 and 16 May 2009.

This year's meeting bears the subtitle WHERE WE LIVE – WHAT WE NEED, and it will focus in particular on topics such as financial inclusion, including the issues of excessive debt, housing and access to basic services. It will be attended by Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Marián Hošek and Deputy Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Czeslaw Walek on behalf of the Czech Presidency.

People who experience poverty and face the risk of social exclusion can directly meet and debate with those who shape and implement poverty-related policies and measures at both national and European level. National delegations of most EU Members States will have the opportunity to present both their good and bad experiences in the fight against poverty and social exclusion, to suggest solutions and to hang their own ideas for a solution on a symbolic wishing tree. Delegates from among people who experienced or are experiencing poverty are nominated by the national coordinators of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN).

The 8th European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty is organised by the Czech Presidency in cooperation with the EAPN, the European Commission and the Kingdom of Belgium.

The meeting is freely accessible to journalists.