News and statements Archive

News and statements

Council finally published its Conclusions on Global Gateway: a step forward, but not far enough

Council finally published its Conclusions on Global Gateway: a step forward, but not far enough On Monday the Council has finally adopted its Conclusions on Global Gateway under the Cyprus Presidency. This represents the Council’s first formal collective position since the Global Gateway strategy’s launch in 2021, and comes at a crucial moment, following the European Parliament’s Report “Global Gateway – past impacts and…

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Civil society meets in Brussels to strengthen funding resilience, education & civic participation

On 26–27 May 2026, SOLIDAR and SOLIDAR+ members met in Brussels for two events connecting work on civil society funding, education, and citizenship, and their shared role in sustaining democratic participation. Training Academy on Diversifying Funding for Civil Society Organisations The programme opened on 26 May with a Training Academy on Diversifying Funding for Civil Society Organisations, facilitated by Katarina Bartovičová, Senior Fundraising Manager at EDRi (European Digital…

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Council Recommendation on Fighting Housing Exclusion – an (imperfect) welcome tool

Council Recommendation on Fighting Housing Exclusion – an (imperfect) welcome tool On 6 May, together with the long-awaited Anti-Poverty Strategy and other documents, the European Commission published its proposal for a Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion. This initiative should ensure the full implementation of Principle 19 of the European Pillar of Social Rights. SOLIDAR had contributed to the call for evidence opened by the Commission presenting recommendations to…

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Annual General Assembly 2026: making positive change together

x On Thursday 28 May, we gathered our members in Brussels for the Annual General Assembly of SOLIDAR and SOLIDAR+. It was a day of important decision-making and discussion for our network which will shape much of our work over the next year, and in particular our approach to the EU’s next long-term budget. In the morning,…

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ENHANCE Final Conference: Amplifying Learner Voice in Adult Learning

On 12 May 2026, the final conference of the ENHANCE project, funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ programme, brought together adult education practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and learners to reflect on how learner voices can be strengthened across adult learning systems in Europe. The event marked the closing phase of a project coordinated by the European Association for the Education of…

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Anti-poverty strategy: is this really all the EU can do to eradicate poverty?

Anti-poverty Strategy: is this really all the EU can do to eradicate poverty? The EU anti-poverty strategy was published on 6th May, as part of a broader package also including a proposal for a Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion and two communications: one on breaking the cycle of child poverty and one on reinforcing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up…

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AccelerateEU: The consequences of Europe’s fossil fuel dependency

x AccelerateEU is the EU’s latest response to yet another avoidable energy crisis. While it rightly prioritises reducing our economies’ dependence on fossil fuels, accelerating renewables and grid deployment, and strengthening consumer protection, it only ‘manages’ the crisis rather than addressing its root causes. Ultimately, it fails to ensure a fair clean energy transition, particularly for people in vulnerable situations, as it does not secure the necessary financing or binding social and environmental safeguards. Right diagnosis,…

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Silver Rose Awards 2026 | Call for Nominations for the just transition award

Are you striving to make a difference and advance a socially just and green transition in your community? Are you fighting for social justice at the local, national or European level? If so, we want to hear from you! In the midst of ongoing climate and environmental crises as well as social inequalities that remain unaddressed, we need ambitious action that both seeks to maintain the…

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Enabling Learning Environments: The Role of Non-formal and informal learning in Building Citizenship and Basic Digital Competences

On 21 April 2026, SOLIDAR+, in collaboration with the S&D Group, organised the Policy Knowledge Exchange ‘Enabling learning environments: The role of non-formal and informal learning in building citizenship and basic digital competences’. The event, taking place at the European Parliament in Brussels, brought together policymakers, civil society organisations and education and training stakeholders to discuss the role of non-formal and informal learning (NFIL)…