EU-ministers over preventie effecten economische crisis (en)
On 26th-27th September in Wroclaw, EU ministers and experts gave advice on innovative methods of preventing the effects of the economic crisis.
In the first part, a debate was held among representatives of Member States. Polish Deputy Labour Minister Radoslaw Mleczko opened the conference, indicating that despite the budgetary savings enforced by the crisis, some areas of society must be specially protected because they are key for future development. In Poland, these areas are education and promoting balance between family and work responsibilities. The need to protect the social sphere in a time of crisis became the leitmotif of other speeches.
Director General of the EU Commission responsible for Employment, Koos Richelle, pointed out that in times of fiscal austerity it is important to spend limited resources effectively. The Commission will also be supporting the verification of measures that activate employment and that prevent poverty and social exclusion.
Senator Frank Vandenbroucke from Belgium called for the adoption of the European Social Investment Pact. Expenditure on social policy should be treated as an investment in future development, in the same way that infrastructure spending is. In addition to avoiding the marginalisation of active social policy during the crisis, such a pact could help Member States exchange experiences on activities whose effectiveness has already been verified.
Delegates from Slovakia, Sweden, Slovenia and Lithuania shared their experiences in responding effectively to the crisis. They focused on emphasising the need for spending available resources more effectively. They stressed the importance of gaining public support for their actions. An objective verification of their effectiveness can be helpful in getting this support. Katherine Duffy of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) presented the results of the conference ‘Getting out of the crisis together’ organised by the EAPN. She opposed the deep cuts in social programmes, which may result from the crisis.
In the second part of the conference, examples were presented of innovative approaches to solving social problems and experimental verification of their effectiveness in the areas of education, employment, homelessness and income support. These are examples of different EU Member States. From Poland, the example of Ruda Slaska was given, where the most excluded people are activated in conjunction with the rehabilitation of the place where they live (Kaufhaus housing estate).
The Polish Presidency is seeking to ensure that the intelligent and innovative response to the crisis in employment and social policy is part of the European Council conclusions in December 2011. This will improve the effectiveness of measures taken by Member States and the EU in this time of crisis.