Brussels, 24/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Committee of the Regions (CoR) backs the internal market and liberalisation because they allow companies to make economies of scale, lower their prices and offer the consumer a wider range of goods. Liberalisation, however, can lead to job losses and unwelcome social consequences. The CoR is determined to find the right balance. It wants to see citizens change their attitude, to shift from job security to work security, while at the same time helping the vulnerable and those who cannot work. This, in essence, is the opinion of Henk Kool (PES, Netherlands) on “active inclusion” and of Linetta Serri (PES, Italy) on the “European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, 2010”. Both opinions were adopted by the CoR plenary assembly, in Brussels on Wednesday 18 June.
In his opinion, Henk Kool, Deputy Mayor of The Hague, welcomes the Commission strategy on the social inclusion of those furthest removed from the labour market, a strategy based on three pillars - adequate and sufficient income support, active integration, and high quality social services - but to it he would add a fourth pillar: social participation. This overall approach assumes that these citizens are also catered for by local and regional authorities. Several instruments have to be employed to encourage their social participation. Speaking to press, Kool called for local and regional authorities to have “direct access to the European Social Fund (ESF) devoted to social inclusion” and for this funding to be maintained in the next budget after 2013. Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla agreed with Kool's proposal, deeming “the term 'social participation' better than 'social inclusion'”, and agreeing that it could be given more prominence in the EU's strategy. He said that “good social work always improves an unfortunate situation”. In plenary session, Spidla stressed that public policies had also to be better integrated and to respect the subsidiarity principle as well as needs at local, regional and national levels. He also encouraged local and regional authorities to make use of the ESF to support their active inclusion programmes. “That is Europe too. Europe is there to give visibility to active inclusion policies - your active inclusion policies,” he said.
In her opinion, Linetta Serri, local councillor for Armungia (province of Cagliari) argued for a greater role to be given to local and regional authorities in planning and implementing initiatives to promote the proposed 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Speaking in plenary session, Spidla highlighted the crucial role of the CoR in the success of this European Year 2010. He added that €17 million would be allocated to it. With 50% co-funding for action at national level, the overall budget would be €26 million. “We hope to strengthen the EU's commitment to social objectives. Thus, the Commission will, on 2 July, adopt a Renewed Social Agenda, reflecting our commitment to a harmonious, cohesion- and inclusion-friendly social development model, based on respect for human rights,” Spidla said. (G.B./transl.rt)