Commissaris Andor: "Armoedebestrijding economische noodzaak" (en)

Dear Mr President,

Vice-Presidents,

Honourable Members,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to attend this third Citizen's Agora organised by the European Parliament in association with the European Economic and Social Committee. This is a great example of participatory democracy and I am honoured to be part of it.

Today's Agora takes place just a few weeks after the closing of the European Year 2010 for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. It provides a real opportunity to reflect on how to move forward together and provide a fair, sustainable way out of the crisis.

Building on the momentum of the European Year

Supporting the participation of civil society and people experiencing poverty has been a key objective in the EU's action to combat poverty and social exclusion. And I believe that the European Year 2010 made an important step forward.

It brought together a considerable number of different players.

The European Parliament has been one of these actors and I very much hope that today's event will be another opportunity to strengthen our cooperation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Impact of the crisis

While we are beginning to see signs that our economies are slowly recovering from the crisis, its impact continues to be felt by many Europeans across the continent.

The statistics are stark:

• - 

  There are 5 million more unemployed than at the beginning of the crisis and many more households have seen their income drop;
• - 

  More than one in five young Europeans cannot find a job, increasing their chances of long-term exclusion; and
• - 

  Over 80 million people in the EU live at risk of poverty.

The EU's role

Much of the responsibility for areas linked to poverty lies with the Member States: for example, social protection systems, health, education and housing.

Nonetheless, we know that there is a strong European dimension. Three quarters of our citizens (74%) believe that the EU has an important role to play.

Under our ten-year strategy for economic and social progress - Europe 2020 - the Commission proposed, for the first time ever, a concrete numerical poverty target. Based on this proposal, the EU leaders agreed to lift at least 20 million people out of poverty by 2020.

In order to meet the EU level poverty target, Member States must now set their own ambitious national targets reflecting the specific situation of their country.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Platform against poverty

To support the efforts and progress towards this headline target, on 16 December last year the Commission adopted a European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion.

The Platform aims to create a joint commitment for action among Member States, European institutions and stakeholders.

The Platform aims to help step up coordination between a wider range of partners into the fight against exclusion. And it puts forward ideas for innovation and improvements that can help us all work more effectively, focusing resources where they make the most impact.

In concrete terms, what actions do we propose?

• 1. 

  First, the Platform proposes actions across the entire policy spectrum, including beyond traditional social inclusion policies. For example:
• - 

  Supporting the active inclusion of those further from the labour market;
• - 

  preventing the transmission of poverty through generations and tackling child poverty;
• - 

  Making social protection and services more effective and responsive to new social needs;
• - 

  Stepping up efforts to integrate minority groups, including Roma; and
• - 

  Tackling financial exclusion or energy poverty.
• 2. 

  Second, it promotes innovation in social policy. A key focus will be driving innovation to find smart, cost-effective solutions to modernising social policies. The Commission will help Member States develop evidence-based innovation to test and assess new policy approaches.
• 3. 

  Third, the Platform makes proposals on how to make EU funds better delivering on social inclusion. For example, the future ESF should be adapted to the new framework of Europe 2020 to fully play its role in reducing poverty.
• 4. 

  And finally, the Platform broadens stakeholders' involvement and supports the participation of people experiencing poverty. It will also support the role of the social economy.

I am confident that the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion will help us find innovative and lasting cost-effective solutions for a more inclusive Europe.

Roma

As I mentioned, the Platform also addresses Roma which are the European Union’s largest minority and yet they are one of the most socially excluded groups.

Across Europe, Roma experience very high levels of material deprivation and unemployment, large (and often growing) gaps in terms of health and education, widespread prejudice and discrimination.

The problems they face are complex and interrelated, requiring a holistic approach that looks at all the areas where Roma individuals come up against barriers to their full participation in the economy and society.

In September 2010, the Commission established an internal Task Force to assess Member States' use of EU funding and its effectiveness with regard to the social and economic integration of Roma.

This year in April, the Commission intends to build on the work of the Roma Task Force, as well as the work done by the EU Platform for Roma inclusion since 2009, to present an EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies.

This EU Framework will assess the use of national and European funding and will make proposals for a more effective implementation of EU funds in tackling Roma exclusion for the current and forthcoming programming periods.

In addition, the EU Framework will seek to ensure a more efficient monitoring of, and support to national and European efforts with regard to Roma integration.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Conclusion

Real progress to reduce poverty will only be achievable with the involvement of all stakeholders at all levels - whether European, national or local. The Commission will work with other EU institutions and bodies to transform the Annual Round Table on Poverty and Exclusion into a wider Annual Convention of the European Platform designed to bring together all relevant actors. The Annual Convention, to take place in October, will take stock of progress made towards the headline target, review the implementation of the activities announced under the Platform and provide suggestions for future action.

Combating poverty has to be part of our overall recovery strategy. It is not only a moral duty, but also an economic necessity.

I look forward to working together with the European Parliament and all key stakeholders, NGOs, and the people actually experiencing poverty to make it happen.

Thank you.