Commissie neemt rapport 'Europese jaar van de strijd tegen armoede en sociale uitsluiting' aan (en)

The European Commission adopted a report on the implementation and results of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010.

The report describes the range of activities developed as part of the campaign in 29 countries and at European level. Most of them were geared towards information and awareness-raising (including a pan European campaign coordinated by the European Commission), direct support to those at risk, research and policy initiatives. In total, around 900 activities were directly co-funded across the EU, with an additional 1800 framed within the campaign but without direct financial support. The active involvement of 164 ambassadors helped involve a wider audience.

The European Year has spurred a large mobilisation and has contributed to putting poverty and social exclusion at the centre of the Europe 2020. It allowed active participation by those experiencing poverty, led to new partnerships and stressed the need to build more bridges between key actors, such as NGOs, business, media, or public authorities beyond social inclusion services. However, the crisis raised significant obstacles for the campaign to deliver its full impact, by hitting both people at risk of poverty and those working with them on a daily basis.

The report presents follow-up actions to take place after the EY2010. In particular, Member States have defined specific national targets for reducing poverty or social exclusion as part of the Europe 2020 strategy and progress is monitored through the European semester. The Flagship Initiative "A European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusions" highlights the Commission's agenda through concrete actions in diverse fields such as the fight against child poverty, financial exclusion or social innovation. The legislative package tabled in October 2011 for Cohesion Policy 2014-20 entails a significantly stronger focus on the issue, including a 20% earmarking of the European Social Fund's activities towards social inclusion measures.

Click here for the Report on the implementation, results and overall assessment

of the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.