Brussels, 13/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) expressed disappointment with the Employment Summit, which it described as having concentrated on employment at any price, without measuring the social impact of the crisis as a whole. The EAPN is calling on the June Employment/Social Affairs Council “to address this failure by making Active Inclusion, which is rooted in guaranteeing an adequate minimum income for all, as well as access to quality services and personalised support into sustainable jobs”. This would be “coherent” with the Employment/Social Affairs Council of December last year and the approval on 6 May by the European Parliament of Jean Lambert's report on social inclusion (EUROPE 9896). A press release indicated that the EAPN is urging the Council to ensure that Social NGOs are actively involved in the discussions on solutions for the social impact of the crisis, before the June Council, to ensure these concerns are adequately taken up.
Fintan Farrell, Director of EAPN stated: "We want to see active inclusion as a cross-cutting pillar, with specific recommendations to strengthen social protection systems, particularly guaranteeing an adequate minimum income for a dignified life, as well as investing in social services and social economy. We want supportive approaches to help people who haven't got jobs into sustainable jobs that can take them out of poverty, rather than increasing hardship and pressure on the poor, through punitive activation approaches and sanctions". (G.B./transl.rh)