Brussels, 03/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The EP Intergroup European Fourth World Committee adopted on 1 March the text of an appeal that its president, Marietta Giannakou (EPP, Grece) will address to the heads of State and government of the EU with a view to the extraordinary European Council of Lisbon on 23 and 24 March.
In their appeal, MEPs ask that, on the occasion of this summit, the EU launch an ambitious European strategy to fight against poverty and social exclusion comprising annual national plans and founded on the partnership of populations in a poverty situation. The appeal insists on: - poverty indicators which are also qualitative; - the elaboration of a framework directive as a result of the programme envisaged by the Commission to fight against poverty and social exclusion; - "mainstreaming" in social exclusion matters concerning all European policies (mainly economic and monetary policies and those promoting access to new technologies); - a policy for the eradication of child poverty conducted in partnership with families; - the promotion of a culture for refusing poverty, mobilising the civil society.