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BackThis week, the Commission presented a new Eurobarometer survey on poverty and social exclusion and held a conference under the motto “Poverty: between perception and reality - a communication challenge”. The survey and the conference are associated with the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, whose aim it is to reach a broad public and to shed light on the different perceptions of poverty and social exclusion.
89 % of the Europeans would like their governments to tackle poverty and 75 % expect the EU to take appropriate measures. The European Year 2010 is the perfect opportunity to have wishes and intentions followed by actions. Poverty is happening slowly and in most cases starts with people losing their jobs, wages that are too low, insufficient social security benefits, but also with a lack of or inadequate school education and vocational training. Poverty is regarded as an access restriction, which is very difficult to overcome. Ten years ago, the EU heads of state and government promised “to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty (by 2010)”. Unfortunately, however, there are still many Europeans living in poverty and it requires a collective effort to make combating poverty a priority objective.
The European Year 2010 against poverty provides the opportunity of meeting the citizens’ expectations, said Commissioner Špidla at the conference on “Poverty: between perception and reality - a communication challenge”. The results of the conference itself were not really surprising. Hence, governments are required to make greater efforts, both at European and national level. In his address, President Barroso demanded a coalition against poverty and spoke of a moral challenge. The “new” media will play an important role in the fight against poverty. Commissioner Špidla highlighted Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the vast number of other social platforms on the Internet as mediators for the concerns of the poorest. This might almost sound cynically, as in particular people on the margins of society surely have other worries than to exchange information about their fight for survival via the Internet. What is really needed is for governments to take decisive action. Financial resources must be provided to lift 80 million citizens in Europe - in spite of being in employment - out of poverty.
Further information:
Press release of the EU Commission on Eurobarometer survey
Eurobarometer survey
Homepage: European Year 2010 for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
The European Year 2010 against poverty provides the opportunity of meeting the citizens’ expectations, said Commissioner Špidla at the conference on “Poverty: between perception and reality - a communication challenge”. The results of the conference itself were not really surprising. Hence, governments are required to make greater efforts, both at European and national level. In his address, President Barroso demanded a coalition against poverty and spoke of a moral challenge. The “new” media will play an important role in the fight against poverty. Commissioner Špidla highlighted Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the vast number of other social platforms on the Internet as mediators for the concerns of the poorest. This might almost sound cynically, as in particular people on the margins of society surely have other worries than to exchange information about their fight for survival via the Internet. What is really needed is for governments to take decisive action. Financial resources must be provided to lift 80 million citizens in Europe - in spite of being in employment - out of poverty.
Further information:
Press release of the EU Commission on Eurobarometer survey
Eurobarometer survey
Homepage: European Year 2010 for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion