Brussels, 09/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 9 October, the European Parliament, in adopting the report by Gabriele Zimmer (GUE/NGL, Germany) by 540 votes to 57, with 32 abstentions, called for a holistic approach to be put in place to tackle poverty. MEPs want decent income, quality jobs and better access to social services and services of general interest. Eight per cent of workers in the EU are under threat of poverty.
Most of the European Union's 27 member states have a national minimum salary, “but several do not”. The EP calls on member states to provide guaranteed minimum income schemes for social inclusion. It also calls on the Council to agree an EU target for minimum income schemes and contributory replacement income schemes of at least 60% of national median equalised income, and, further, to agree a timetable for achieving this target in all member states. MEPs say that minimum income schemes should be complemented by measures to aid social inclusion in housing, education, training, life-long learning and through income support to cover individuals' and households' costs. Member states should also make additional provision for disadvantaged groups (the disabled, those suffering from chronic illness, isolated parents and large families) to cover, for example, the costs of support tailored to needs and medical care.
Child poverty. Nineteen million children are at risk of poverty. MEPs want to reduce child poverty by 50% by 2012 and call on member states to make sufficient resources available to be able to achieve this target.
The homeless. The Council is called on to reach an EU commitment to put an end to the problem of homelessness by 2015. Member states are called on to put in place integrated policies to guarantee decent housing for all and winter emergency plans. (L.C./transl.rt)