Brussels, 28/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - Given the many challenges to be faced, the Spanish EU Presidency wants to reaffirm and improve Europe in its social and united aspects with a view to a better economic future. This was how the Spanish minister for social affairs, Trinidad Jimenez, addressed the employment and social affairs committee on Wednesday 27 January. Highlighting the very great social sensitivity always shown by the European Parliament, Jimenez gave her assurance that the Spanish EU Presidency would closely collaborate with MEPs.
At a time when the future of European policy is being fashioned, the Spanish EU Presidency wishes to strengthen: (1) the European social model, which is a “strong model, a model of sufficient social protection, a model of citizen equality, a characteristic element of our European Union”, which guarantees social cohesion; and (2) the fight against poverty and social exclusion, which is to be included in the European agenda. Trinidad Jimenez said the Presidency will call an EU Council in June this year. It will be devoted to active inclusion of those most at risk of exclusion such as ethnic minorities (including the Roma), persons with disabilities and older persons. The Presidency above all plans to develop, under the leadership of Felipe Gonzalez, a framework report on combating poverty, and organise a round table with those who are the victims of poverty so that they may express their views. Trinidad Jimenez concluded that the year 2010 should be the year of equality, wellbeing and opportunity for all.
Adam Kosa (EPP, Hungary) called for the employment of persons with disabilities to be a priority for the Spanish Presidency. Kosa, who is familiar with the difficulties facing those with disabilities as he himself is deaf and dumb (he was accompanied by sign language interpreters), pointed out that 50 million people suffer from some kind of incapacity in the EU. He asked what could be done to promote the employment of those with disabilities. Jimenez replied by saying their dignity should be ensured and they must be able to exercise their rights, adding that the trio of EU presidencies is planning active policies on employment. She pointed out that a joint meeting of social affairs and health ministers of the EU with associations representing persons with disabilities will be held on 19 May in Saragossa to discuss this strategy. It is necessary to guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities by allowing them to express their handicap, the Spanish minister said, in answer to Elisabeth Morin (EPP, France). Based on the fact that public policies are not always applied, Morin had asked what the Spanish Presidency planned to do to ensure that such policies are truly implemented in order to include persons with disabilities on the labour market. (G.B./transl.jl)