2010 is the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. I am aware that you are the only Maltese MEP in the European Parliament’s committee for Employment and Social Affairs. What is the EU doing to tackle this problem?
The Employment and Social Affairs Committee will be responsible for presenting the EP’s position on all initiatives at EU Level to combat poverty and social exclusion - an important and indispensable role.
Poverty and social exclusion are not necessarily connected - though one will often inevitably lead to the other. The perception that such things are only found in the poor countries of the developing world is a misnomer. We as Europeans are directly affected by these realities especially when recent data shows that up to 17 per cent of EU citizens live below the poverty line.
Giving the year a name reflecting these realities has the function of creating a greater awareness. The Commission’s approach for this year is that of engaging with and encouraging all segments of society to fight poverty and social exclusion. The EU also intends to give a voice to those affected so as to understand how best to help them overcome these hurdles. This should aid in preventing these individuals from being marginalized and ostracized from society - consequences that only worsen the problem.
These initiatives are commendable - but of negligible benefit if not backed with more concrete aid. The recovery from the economic crisis is underway nevertheless the social crisis it caused lingers on. It is in part for this reason that measures are in place that will effectively provide support to these unfortunate members of society.
The EP has approved the European micro-finance facility just three weeks ago in Strasbourg. The fund is aimed at providing economic aid to those individuals who have lost their jobs as a result of the crisis and wish to start their own business. Vladimír Špidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities stated that “In the current recession, we want to offer a new start to the unemployed through easier access to credit to set up or develop new businesses. And we want to help small businesses to develop further despite the crisis.”
The European Solidarity Fund has been set up to reduce differing levels of prosperity and living standards among member states. The Fund has been around for decades and has helped millions of people in the EU. It continues to have a fundamental role and even more so in light of recent events.
The Fund achieves its objectives by directly promoting employment - and preparing Europe’s workforce to meet new global challenges. A Eurobarometer survey conducted in late 2009 revealed that lack of employment opportunities is thought by EU citizens to be the primary cause of poverty in the EU. Over the period from 2007 to 2013 over €17bn will be distributed through this fund in order to achieve these goals.
On 27 November 2009 the green light was given to make 2011 the European Year of Volunteering. This will be instrumental in enhancing the efforts being made during this year and create a greater awareness of what we as individuals may do to alleviate suffering in our own communities.
In October 2009, Commissioner Špidla, stated that “we in the EU have the good fortune to live in one of the world’s most prosperous regions, yet poverty remains a daily reality for nearly 80 million Europeans.” He went on to announce the choice for 2010 and emphasised that the media’s role would be vital in helping the EU achieve its aims. The concept is simple - greater media coverage promotes the obtaining of knowledge and understanding which reduces stigmatisation and exclusion.
While simple in theory this is a monumental challenge in practice. Ten years ago EU leaders pledged to ‘make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty by 2010’. This initiative has arguably failed. Let us this year focus our efforts on obtaining a clear understanding on the causes and effects of these realities and let us really make concrete steps forward to eradicate them.
David Casa is a Nationalist MEP
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www.davidcasa.eu