Brussels, 19/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - At the World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty on 20 October European Commission president Romano Prodi will receive a delegation in Brussels of around fifteen members of the Mouvement ATD Quart Monde led by Eugen Brand. This meeting will: reaffirm the need to put the fight against extreme poverty and social exclusion at the heart of the EU and Member States' political priorities; it will indicate that continued poverty that leads to exclusion is a serious political issue that threatens democracy, peace and respect for human rights for all. ATD Quart Monde will explain the impact of policies on their lives, what they suffer from, their attempt and aspirations and how they hope to build a Europe of dignity for all. Prodi had decided on this meeting at their last meeting with ATD on 2 June and is hoping to "contribute to implementing a new culture of meeting and dialogue with all components of society".
Delegates will also meet members of the Comité ATD Quart Monde at the European Parliament (including president outgoing Martine Roure, president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Roger Briesch and his Head of Cabinet Thomas Jansen.