26/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - Several Irish organisations which closely follow the implementation of social policy in the EU have called on Bertie Ahern to ensure that the Spring Summit on Friday does not renounce the commitment to create more and better jobs and to encourage social cohesion. Emphasis should be firmly placed on improving conditions of life for the poor, whether they are at work or unemployed, Philip O'Coinnor of Dublin Employment's Pact, said. Brian Carty, of the European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland (EAPN), stresses for his part the risk of poverty that threatens 11.4 million people in the EU, although they are at work. Eric Conroy, of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU), calls on the Heads of State or Government meeting in Brussels to again pledge to comply with a balanced Lisbon Agenda that will promote the European social model. In a press release, these organisations deplore the fact that there is a tendency to "blame" the unemployed themselves, rather than recognise the "structural causes of unemployment". (See EUROPE of 25 March, p.13, on the subject of requests made at the Spring Summit by the social NGOs).