Brussels, 20/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - The first reactions to the flagship initiative, the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, presented by Commissioner László Andor on Thursday have been positive. One theme is common to them all: good intentions have to be turned into actions.
EESC: European Economic and Social Committee President Staffan Nilsson said that “the Commission's approach to improve social conditions in a sustainable way and to deliver on the EUROPE 2020 strategy targets with every single anti-poverty measure is exactly what the EESC advises for tackling poverty”. The Chair of the EESC social affairs section Leila Kurki said it was to be hoped that the establishment of a Platform against Poverty would “translate EU commitments into deeds”. The EESC sees the Platform as a framework for strengthening the policy coordination and horizontal anti-poverty approach in areas such as active inclusion, child poverty and homelessness. It concludes that sustainability must be the main thread of anti-poverty initiatives.
EAPN: European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) President Ludo Horemans said that “urgent action will be needed if the good intentions and commitments in the Platform are to be convincing”. One of these initiatives could be the commitment by all member states to provide adequate minimum income schemes at least above the poverty threshold, as proposed by the European Parliament, he said. He noted, however, that “the failure in the overall strategy to recognise the negative impact of growing levels of inequalities in our societies is a major weakness”.
AGE Platform Europe: Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Secretary General, called on member states “to explain what they propose to effectively prevent all aspects of poverty and social exclusion in old age, such as lack of adequate pensions, severe material deprivation which prevents older people from living in dignity and shrinking access to basic services such as healthcare and long-term care or decent housing”. (G.B./transl.rt)