Brussels, 11/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - National governments must not ignore social measures to counteract the negative impact of economic austerity on vulnerable people. This is the message of representatives of churches in Ireland and Europe to the Irish prime minister, in Dublin on 8 March, on behalf of the Conference of European Churches and the Commission of Bishops' Conferences of the European Communities (COMECE) at a forum organised as part of the regular dialogue between churches and the rotating EU presidencies. The churches say work to eradicate structural poverty and inequality must be taken into account when measuring economic progress.
The main subject discussed at the forum was the economic crisis in Europe. The churches say that all their parishes have witnessed a deterioration in living standards at the local, regional and national levels, particularly amongst the poorest people. Although jobs and job creation are one of the main conditions needed to get out of economic crisis, the churches regretted the increasing number of working poor and urged the European Union to include the mention of a common one day off work each week in its review of the Working Time Directive as a clear, visible sign of reconciling family and working life. The churches call for greater involvement of civil society, social partners (employers and trade unions) and other activists in the drawing up of national reforms, social reports and country-specific recommendations. The churches call for the European institutions to pursue their negotiations on reform of the banking system in Europe, wanting more in-depth negotiations on defending the agreement among the Council of Ministers, European Parliament and European Commission on reform of the bank system; including a robust review clause in the accounting and transparency directives and more tangible details on reform of banks; tackling the insidious impact of tax havens; and applying the 2011 recommendations of the OECD, World Bank, United Nations and International Monetary Fund for more effective tax collection and assessment of national tax policies to ensure they do not have negative repercussions on developing countries. The churches say that it is important that the Member States pledge to meet the overseas aid targets for 2015. (IL/transl.fl)