A4-0102/96

Resolution on the final report from the Commission on the implementation of the Community programme concerning the economic and social integration of the economically and socially less privileged groups in society 'Poverty 3" (1989- 94) (COM(95)0094 - C4-0150/95)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission's final report on the implementation of the Community programme concerning the economic and social integration of the economically and socially less privileged groups in society 'Poverty 3' (1989-94) (COM(95)0094 - C4-0150/95,

- having regard to the Commission's medium-term social action programme 1995- 1997 of 12 April 1995 (COM(95)0134),

- having regard to the Commission White Paper on European Social Policy - a way forward for the Union of 27 July 1994 (COM(94)0333),

- having regard to the Copenhagen Conference of 3-4 June 1993,

- having regard to the Council recommendation of 27 July 1992 on the convergence of social protection objectives and policies ((OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, p. 49.)),

- having regard to the Commission Communication 'Towards a Europe of Solidarity - intensifying the fight against social exclusion by fostering integration' (COM(92)0542),

- having regard to the Council Decision of 18 July 1989 establishing a medium- term Community action programme concerning the economic and social integration of the economically and socially less privileged groups in society ((OJ L 224, 2.8.1989, p. 10.)),

- having regard to its resolutions of 28 October 1993 on social exclusion ((OJ C 315, 22.11.1993, p. 242.)), 27 October 1994 on a medium-term programme to combat exclusion and promote solidarity: a new programme to support and stimulate innovation (1994 to 1995) ((OJ C 323, 21.11.1994, p. 188.)), and 16 January 1996 on the medium-term social action programme 1995- 1997 (COM(95)0134 - C4-0160(95) ((OJ C 32, 5.2.1996, p. 24.)),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment and the opinion of the Committee on Women's Rights (A4-0102/96),

A. whereas the problem of poverty, which affects an increasing number of people and workers in the Member States of the European Union, is assuming alarming proportions and must therefore be tackled at European level, with full solidarity and adequate programmes,

B. whereas the Poverty 3 programme has helped to develop a greater understanding of the processes of social exclusion, in particular their multidimensional and dynamic character; whereas policies must therefore be devised which address the mix of causes of the phenomenon,

C. whereas the assessment made by the Commission in its final report has failed to make full use of the wealth of documentation provided by the projects, the Research and Documentation units, and the Central Unit, since it fails to provide detailed accounts of the work, failures and achievements of the programme; whereas the report on the implementation of the Community programme Poverty 3 should be made more thorough and more complete, making use of the information available,

D. whereas the Commission was very late in providing documentation, evidence and information on the management of the funds made available under the programme and appears to have failed to adopt a comprehensive and constructive approach,

E. whereas the European Union should make a specific contribution, on a long- term basis and encouraging the participation of excluded groups and their integration in society, to support exchanges of knowledge and experience, innovatory programmes, significant measures, and the dissemination of best practice, thereby helping to give added value to the actions and programmes undertaken by the Member States at national, regional and local level,

F. whereas social exclusion, and hence poverty, is a violation of fundamental human rights and the rights of the family as the central nucleus of society which may in future undermine our democracies; whereas it must be tackled by means of a policy to promote employment and social development,

G. whereas society and the public authorities must take responsibility for addressing the causes underlying poverty and social exclusion through the commitment and active solidarity of all European citizens,

H. whereas the European Union must inspire the less privileged sections of society with hope in a better future, by building a society in accordance with ethical, moral and economic models based on solidarity,

1. Is profoundly concerned about the 52 million people who live below the poverty threshold and at the continuing growth in the phenomenon, as well as the emergence of new forms of poverty;

2. Regrets that the Poverty 3 programme was not able to convince a number of Member States that the measures implemented by the programme can only be implemented at European and not national level; therefore expects the Commission to highlight the European connection better in future programmes and explain the need for measures at European level;

3. Calls on the Commission to justify the 4th Poverty Programme to the Council, after conducting a feasibility study on the aims, objectives, actions, means of evaluation, and coherence with other European Programmes and funding sources, and the submissions already received under the new Employment- Integra initiative from the Member States;

4. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the new programme strengthens in particular exchanges of experience with regard to pilot projects and includes policies which address all the dimensions of the problem:

- employment and professional training;

- minimum resources and social protection;

- housing;

- health and promotion of social services;

- education and culture;

- participation and representation of the population concerned;

- establishment of links between the poorest and other citizens;

- social housing policy;

- direct aid to less privileged families, particularly the families of severely disabled people;

- aid for integration in the world of work.

With this in view and bearing in mind that Poverty 3 illustrated the difficulties of applying anti-poverty measures at political and institutional level and that the basic principles of the Poverty 3 programme will therefore need to be further developed:

- multi-dimensional approach;

- partnership between public and private sector;

- participation of groups concerned,

calls on the Council to adopt without delay the Commission proposal for a programme to combat exclusion and in particular calls on the two national delegations not to oppose it;

5. Deplores the fact that in spite of the wealth of documentation available, the Poverty 3 programme has not been assessed by the Commission in terms of cost-benefit analysis or its contribution to strategic policy development in the European Union; calls for an evaluation of the programme which examines the added value aspects of the programme which would assist Member States and other organizations to develop policies to combat poverty and social exclusion;

6. Calls on the Commission to:

(a) set up an internal operational unit to combat poverty;

(b) reestablish the European Observatory on national policies to combat social exclusion in close coordination with the Member States and NGOs;

(c) submit an annual report to Parliament based on the findings of the Observatory:

(d) ensure, in cooperation with Eurostat and the European Observatory, that the poverty index in the European Union is published regularly together with economic and unemployment indicators;

(e) continue to fund the European Anti-Poverty Network;

7. Recalls its recommendations on equality of treatment in its resolution of 13 March 1996 embodying (i) Parliament's opinion on the convening of the Intergovernmental Conference, and (ii) an evaluation of the work of the Reflection Group and a definition of the political priorities of the European Parliament with a view to the Intergovernmental Conference ((OJ C 96, 1.4.1996, p. 77.));

8. Calls on the Council to adopt the programme to assist the integration of the elderly;

9. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to include the objective of preventing social exclusion as part of the Community's general and structural policies;

10. Calls for all instruments available to the European Union, particularly the Social Fund, to be used coherently with the aim of combating poverty;

11. Calls on the Member States to comply with the Council recommendation of 24 June 1992 on common criteria concerning sufficient resources and social assistance in social protection systems ((OJ L 245, 26.8.1992, p. 46.)) which specifically recognizes the basic right of the individual to sufficient resources and services to enable him to lead a dignified human existence;

12. Calls on the Commission to promote better awareness of the programme and any other activity designed to combat social exclusion and disseminate information on the pilot projects developed by the programme, by strengthening the information measures;

13. Expects the Commission, in its future programmes to combat poverty and social exclusion, to take account of the aspects of subsidiarity, participation by the Member States in the implementation of the programmes and more efficient use of Community resources, and to take practical measures itself for those concerned;

14. Calls on the representatives of the Member States at the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference to consider the fight against poverty and social exclusion to be one of its main objectives;

15. Calls on the Commission to draw up a report on the economic costs of poverty and social exclusion in the Member States and to propose the creation of a body within the EU which would periodically carry out a comparative study of social exclusion at world level, with the participation of all the international organizations and the representatives of G7, Africa, Asia, Australia, China, Russia and other countries which so request;

16. Stresses that it is necessary to continue to guarantee the setting-up of programmes and networks which contribute to improving quality of life for women, such as the former NOW, LEIs, IRIS, HORIZON and LEADER programmes etc., and ensuring at the same time that they have budgetary funding; since training is fundamental when it comes to looking for jobs, it is particularly necessary to reinforce programmes dedicated to vocational training for women, not only for the young, but also taking account of educational and training initiatives throughout working life;

17. Notes that poverty is increasingly affecting women and insists that conditions must be created which ensure equal opportunities for men and women as regards access to jobs; considers that the Member States should therefore devote more attention to developing facilities to assist families (creches, centres for the elderly, etc.);

18. Calls for the principle of equal pay for equal work between men and women to be a standard rule of normal working life; the Member States must accordingly be urged to take specific steps to ensure that this principle is observed on their territory;

19. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Social Partners and the NGOs involved in the fight against poverty.