2010 is EU Year for Fighting poverty and social exclusion

The advent of economic recession has forced the European Commission to raise peoples’ awareness that poverty is not a personal choice. In designating 2010 as the year to combat poverty, the European Union hopes that this will lead to a wider discussion among the social partners on the causes of poverty and social exclusion. Non-governmental organisations have welcomed the Commission’s initiative.

Fighting poverty and raising awareness

For over two decades, the European Union (EU) has promoted ‘European year’ awareness campaigns. In 2006, for example, it designated the year to increasing peoples’ awareness of the possibilities offered by greater mobility within the EU. Thus, 2010 has been designated the European year for combating poverty and social exclusion.

Since the launching of the Lisbon Strategy in 2000, poverty has been a key issue on the European Commission’s political agenda. Unfortunately, the Commission recognises that much still needs to be done to address the issue of poverty and social exclusion, especially in a period of economic crisis and growing insecurity among EU citizens. As the Commission notes, ‘poverty is often associated with developing countries, where a lack of food and clean water can often be a daily challenge. Europe is also affected by poverty and social exclusion. It may not be as severe, but is nonetheless unacceptable.’ EU Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, has argued that combating poverty is closely linked with ending the economic recession. Mr Barroso recently stated, ‘it is too often the vulnerable in society who end up being the hardest hit by the impacts of a recession.’

Figures released by the Commission make for alarming reading. A total of 79 million people in the EU live below the poverty line, which means that they have less than 60% of the median income within the country they reside. Although unemployment is a key cause of poverty, figures at the Commission’s disposal demonstrate that 8% of Europeans currently in employment live in poverty.

2010 campaign

Evidence suggests that the campaign for 2010 will receive widespread support among Europe’s citizens, as 73% of Europeans see poverty as a major problem that national governments have to address. The campaign has outlined four objectives. These include recognition that it is a fundamental right of all persons within the EU ‘to live in dignity and to take an active part in society’. Furthermore, European actors see a need to win public support, both collectively and individually, for anti-poverty policies. Another central aspect of combating poverty and social exclusion involves promoting social cohesion – a key aspect of most European policies over the past decade. The final objective of the campaign concerns a commitment on the part of the EU and Member States to ‘renew’ their pledge to fight poverty and develop a more inclusive society.

With a budget of €26 million, €17 million of which is provided by the EU, the idea behind the campaign is to fund numerous activities. These can include:

• high-profile awareness campaigns involving celebrities;

• funding projects addressing the negative stereotyping of people living in poverty;

• the organisation of meetings and debates between public and private sector actors about factors that prevent individuals from participating in wider society, in particular labour market exclusion;

• the organisation of events and activities designed to demonstrate national governments’ commitment to fighting poverty. This will involve a number of high-profile events to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October.

To ensure the campaign’s success, the Commission favours an open method of coordination. While Member States are responsible for implementing and overseeing activities, the EU is responsible for setting guidelines that Member States are required to adapt to the circumstances of their national setting. The European Commission also intends to inform national discussions by undertaking surveys and studies on poverty.

NGOs rally behind campaign

The EU’s initiative to fight poverty, in particular the aim to raise peoples’ awareness of the plight of those who fall below the poverty line, has received widespread support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs). One of the main demands of NGOs involves highlighting the structural causes of poverty, recognising that certain groups – such as women, as well as young and older people – are vulnerable to labour market exclusion and low-paid employment. This requires a reassertion of key elements of the Lisbon Strategy, lifelong learning and specific training policies geared towards people affected by structural unemployment and young people without formal qualifications.

Commentary

Ever since the global financial crash heralded the beginning of severe economic recession in 2008, the EU has been conscious of the need to cushion the effects of the downturn. The Commission is particularly concerned that certain groups in society – such as young and older people, women, migrants and low-skilled workers – are vulnerable in times of economic crisis. The Commission is hopeful that the anti-poverty campaign in 2010 will result in a wider discussion between governments, employer organisations, trade unions and NGOs on poverty and social exclusion. In times of recession and insecurity, the Commission would appear to be aware that peoples’ faith in the EU could be declining. For this reason, the Commission is committed to demonstrating that the EU economy can provide people with a good and secure standard of living.

Michael Whittall, Technical University Munich