Ursula Haubner had a meeting in Brussels today in her capacity as Council Presidency with people in the EU afflicted by poverty. "I am convinced the European Union needs to be in direct touch with the living conditions of its citizens, particularly those living in poverty and social exclusion", Haubner said, "for it is the the people concerned who have real competence in the matter, and so they must be involved as a positive force in the decision-making process."
The meeting in Brussels focuses on the very practical issue of 'everyday survival' for people afflicted by poverty. It is about daily life and the question of which goods and services can be purchased with an income below the poverty line.
It also concerns issues to be taken into account in the national reports on social protection and social inclusion. "I see this as an important input from everyday experience", Ursula Haubner said, "for all Member States have to draw up their national reports by September."
The Austrian Presidency has made a clear commitment to the social dimension of the EU, and so the March 2006 European Council adopted a clear position on poverty and affirmed the goal of making decisive progress in reducing poverty and social exclusion by 2010, and particularly in combating child poverty.
“It is now up to the Member States to carry out this mandate. A first meeting with all the stakeholders already took place last week in Austria. We are concentrating on reducing the threat of poverty to families with children, on supporting disadvantaged children and young people, on involving people with disabilities and improving employment prospects for groups with above average problems on the labour market”, Haubner said of the Austrian approach.
In addition to actual victims of poverty, the approximately 200 participants from 27 European countries included representatives of the national authorities, in order to stimulate the dialogue in the individual countries and continue it more efficiently.
"The EU must do its homework too, child poverty is unacceptable wherever it occurs", Haubner said.
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