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Call for local and regional authorities to have bigger role in European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
23.04.2008, 08:33
Local and regional authorities should be given a bigger role in planning and delivering initiatives to promote the proposed 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, according to a new draft opinion adopted by the Committee of the Regions' Economic and Social Policy Commission.
Rapporteur Linetta Serri (PES/IT) is calling for the authorities to be given "more ownership" of events during the Year because they have the major responsibility for framing, funding and carrying out social policies designed to help the 78 million European citizens who currently live in poverty or at risk of poverty. "There's only so much you can do at EU level. Local and regional authorities are in the frontline and we have to ensure that actions during the European Year are more decentralised. Involvement should be open not only to the Member States, but also to local and regional authorities in their own right. We also need a long-term approach," said Ms Serri, a member of Armungia Municipal Council in Sardinia.
The Italian rapporteur hopes that awareness-raising activities during the year will challenge the wide perception that money spent on fighting poverty is money down the drain or a cost for society. "We want to show it's an investment in everyone's future. If we bring people out of poverty we will reduce crime and make our streets safer," she commented.
Ms Serri, who was the CoR's rapporteur on the social agenda (2005), said the European Year should target young people in particular in its awareness-raising projects. She said it should also focus on "new risks" of poverty against the backdrop of rising prices and an uncertain economic outlook. "It could be a very tough time especially for households where there is only one wage-earner," she said.
The proposal by the European Commission to designate 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion is aimed at building on the EU's initial political commitment, expressed in the EU Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs, of making "a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty". The Commission says the Year should focus on child poverty, an inclusive labour market, access to basic services, education and training, the gender dimension of poverty, overcoming discrimination and addressing the needs of disabled people and other vulnerable groups.
Ms Serri's opinion, which is due to be adopted by the CoR's plenary session on 18-19 June, calls for "greater determination" to implement measures which will complement existing EU initiatives to promote social inclusion, such as the PROGRESS programme, the Structural Funds and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and in relation to action in other areas including fundamental rights, culture and intercultural dialogue, youth, citizenship, immigration and asylum, and research.
Source: www.cor.eu