The European Union is undertaking a mid-term review of its Strategy Europe 2020 which had promised to reduce the number of people living in poverty by 20 million in 2020. It is clear that the strategy has failed – instead of reducing the numbers, more people than ever live in poverty. The European Commission and EU Member States will need to make serious commitments to rebalance its economic and social policies in order to fight poverty effectively. Future European policies must be respectful of people, putting them at the heart of policy making; measuring the impact of economic policies on people and responding to their needs by consulting those who are affected. It is time that the social is put back into Europe.”
Sérgio Aires, EAPN President
