Spanish Presidency contributes to a strong momentum for the 2010 EU Year for combating Poverty and Social Exclusion

The Spanish Presidency hosted the official opening event for the 2010 European Year for combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in Madrid on 21 January.  The presence of the President of the Spanish Government José Luis Zapatero and a number of senior Spanish Government Ministers as well as the presence of the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and high level interest from the Spanish media, ensured that the Opening event contributed to building a strong momentum for the 2010 year.  One of the high points of the Opening event was the round table on testimonies and proposals from persons with direct experience of poverty and social exclusion.  In the coming days the Spanish Presidency should present some key conclusions arising from the Opening event.

 

Read EAPN’s letter to Prime Ministers as a follow up from the Opening event.

 

Useful links

 

Spanish Presidency website

European Commission website for the 2010 European Year

 

2010 Coalition of Social NGOs website 

Read NGOs common messages for this European Year and EAPN's specific messages

 

EAPN’s short report on the Opening event

“Dignity is having enough time to ask fundamental questions about our own life and the world around us”

The Spanish Presidency hosted the official opening event for the 2010 European Year for combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in Madrid on 21 January.  The presence of the President of the Spanish Government José Luis Zapatero and a number of senior Spanish Government Ministers as well as the presence of the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and high level interest from the Spanish media, ensured that the Opening event contributed to building a strong momentum for the 2010 year.  One of the high points of the Opening event was the round table on testimonies and proposals from persons with direct experience of poverty and social exclusion.

Speaking at the Opening President Zapatero highlighted “Europe must develop a model of competitiveness which supports a sustainable growth not only in environmental terms but also socially”…. “Europe can only grow from a base of social cohesion where growth clearly contributes to social cohesion – the new EU 2020 strategy must clearly reflect this in its design”. Jean Lambert, MEP joined in the call for a strong social dimension in the EU 2020 strategy.

President Barroso affirmed the goal for EU2020 to be “a society that included all” - “If EU2020 wants to impact really on poverty and social exclusion, it cannot only limit itself to traditional measures. Although employment is generally the best safeguard against poverty and exclusion 8% of Europeans don’t receive enough pay to get out of poverty”  He added that “part of this political consensus must be for policies which guarantee a minimum income and access to quality services. We must ensure that the at risk of poverty rate declines before 2020 for the whole population, but particularly children and older people. We must create a dynamic which better recognizes the fundamental rights of people in poverty to a dignified life”.

Commissioner Spidla (in one of his last engagements as Commissioner) made an emotional appeal for a Europe with greater solidarity to face a “structural” problem:  “Structural change is needed, more solidarity is needed for a society, with a promise of a better life, favouring innovation, dynamism and risk taking. People must not feel abandoned; the commitment of the EU to fight poverty and social exclusion must be renewed”. However, awareness raising during the Year is not enough: Commissioner Spidla confirmed that the Belgian Presidency and the Commission would be supporting an ambitious final declaration for the year, involving all policy areas.

In introducing the round table of people experiencing poverty (Irene Zoltanne Szvoboda, Hungary, Mirko Grga, Italy, Genevieve Baert ,Belgium and Idriss Sadi , Spain), Roshan di Puppo, Director of the Social Platform, recalled that  Article 11 of the Lisbon treaty includes the need for participation of NGOs in policy making and that this participation requires financial investment.

 

The panel of speakers explained issues that affect them on a daily basis: “We need the opportunities to learn to use our rights”. "We need real opportunities to integrate and not just forced assimilation”. “We need opportunities to learn the language of the institutions”. Living in Roma camps means that “our children are not recognised, so they cannot go to secondary school… no one gives you a job because your address stigmatises you.” “As well as adequate minimum income schemes and access to services we need emotional support”. “Before I thought everyone was poor like me. Now I know it is possible to live otherwise.” “Dignity is having enough time to ask fundamental questions about our own life and the world around us".

 

All those who were privileged to be present for the Opening session were challenged and inspired to make the most of the opportunity that the 2010 year provides. We now await with interest the Spanish Presidency key conclusions arising from the Opening event which should be available in the coming days.