A year against poverty

The European Year against poverty and social exclusion. This was the theme that was supposed to catch the attention of Europe’s politicians and media in 2010. But that wasn’t the case. At least, not as much as the continent’s civil society would have hoped. For those who view social problems as merely marginal issues, the fate of Europe’s 116 million poor people (Eurostat’s latest estimate) is insignificant in the face of the huge challenges that Europe face’s in the dawn of the 21st Century.

The heads of state and government passing through Brussels this year have had many other things on their minds: reforming the stability pact; creating mechanisms in order to to be prepared to future eurozone crisis; strengthening the economic governance. These are the issues that made the headlines in the news, on the radio, TV and internet. And poverty was left with the same old crowd. And yet, in the midst of the media noise, a few battles were won. Not in the member states but in Brussels, where last June the heads of state undersigned Europe’s 2020 Strategy and committed to pulling 20 million Europeans out of the grip of poverty and social exclusion by the end of the decade.

With this aim in mind, a European Platform Against Poverty was created during the six-month Belgian EU presidency. Will it be enough? Probably not but it is a good step forward. Others must follow if we are to reduce the distance between the rooms in which the closing conference for the European Year ( Charlemagne Building) and those that hosted the likes of Sarkozy, Merkel, Cameron and Berlusconi during the Council. Geographically, the rooms are very close (a mere 200 metres separates the two buildings) but politically they are separated by a void. In an interview with VitaEurope, the Belgian minister of social affairs, Laurette Onckelynx, is the first to admit that “the European Year against poverty and social exclusion did not achieve the results it deserved, but we have to be optimistic about what was achieved”.

Such as …

The European Union set itself a specific social goal for the first time ever. In the 2020 Strategy that was drawn up by the European Commission and adopted by the Council in June, the European heads of state committed themselves to helping 20 million Europeans to emerge from poverty and social exclusion by 2020. In order to ensure that the 2000-2010 Strategy failure won’t be repeated, governments have been invited to send yearly reports in which efforts to fight poverty and social exclusion are highlighted. Another important success was the drafting of the EPSCO (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council) report that will from now on be presented on the eve of every European Council. The European agenda should not be dictated by financial ministers alone, social issues have to be taken into consideration as well. Unfortunately, financial ministers, heads of state and government are still unduly frightened of approaching social issues and Europe’s social affairs ministers are always struggling to make their voices heard.

How do would you explain their fears?

It is part of Europe’s genetic make up. Ever since the very first treaties, there is the belief that Europe’s social destiny is tied to its economic performance. Everyone knows its not true and yet European leaders keep on pushing the same theory. Today, nothing has changed. In fact, now that European governments are more conservative than ever, the idea that the economy will save European society is more dominant than ever. Unfortunately there are few of us who don’t think like this. Today we need more social protection.

Yes. But public funds are dwindling and the non profit sector is close to collapse…

In Belgium we are doing our best to ensure that the return to budgetary equilibrium doesn’t cost those who are most at risk from the economic crisis. For now we have been successful. The Belgian model should be give cause for reflection: when poor people participate to social life, they are more protected from the crisis. Look at the situation in the UK, in Belgium things are very different. Tomorrow we will have to intensify the efforts made during our presidency, for example, the establishment of a European minimum wage, which many member states were unwilling to discuss. The other front that we should work on is employment because an increased employment means an increase in consumption. And today, European markets are desperately in need of consumers.

www.2010againstpoverty.eu