Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010) COM(2007) 797 final — 2007/0278 (COD)
Date: 2008-05-29
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU action, EU financing, cooperation policy, marginalisation, poverty, public awareness campaign, social policy

C 224/106

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.8.2008

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a decision of the
European Parliament and of the Council on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social
Exclusion (2010)

COM(2007) 797 final — 2007/0278 (COD)

(2008/C 224/24)

On 30 January 2008, the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under
Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the

Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Year for Combating Poverty
and Social Exclusion (2010).

The Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship, which was responsible for preparing the
Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 7 May 2008. The rapporteur was Krzysztof Pater
and the co-rapporteur was Erika Koller.

At its 445th plenary session, held on 28 and 29 May 2008 (meeting of 29 May 2008), the European
Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 116 votes to 1, with 5 abstentions:

1. EESC's position in brief

1.1
The European Economic and Social Committee welcomes
the Commission proposal establishing the European Year 2010
for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. It is a valuable
initiative to raise public awareness of persistent pockets of
poverty and marginalisation in Europe and to build support for
effective ways of tackling these problems.

The EESC welcomes

1.2
the multifaceted approach to
poverty and social exclusion, which cannot be reduced only to
the persistence of relative income inequalities. In order to get
more effectively across the message of intolerability of poverty
and social marginalisation in a continent as wealthy as Europe,
as well as to win the public support required for their effective
resolution, the events of the European Year 2010 should, apart
from relative poverty, be based on measures of poverty
reflecting the scale of actual deprivation, the areas affected and
the depth of the problem, while taking into account disparities
across the EU.

1.3
The European Year 2010 should have clear, select, over-
arching themes. First, to reduce poverty and social exclusion
through professional and social activation, more and better
social support systems and programs are needed. Thus, social
policy is truly a productive factor. Second, reduction of poverty
and social exclusion is in the interest of every citizen and that is
why everyone should contribute to the achievement of
this
objective. It should be borne in mind, however, that the task of
tackling poverty and marginalisation is primarily a job for poli-
tical decision-makers, and thus for government bodies and other
bodies involved in subsequent implementation as well as all
social actors.

The European Year 2010 should be an opportunity to
1.4
raise public awareness of the need to modernise and strengthen
the European social model and of the resulting consequences.
Active inclusion is crucial in preserving and consolidating the
cohesion and solidarity of society as the world faces a financial
and food crisis at a time of globalisation and demographic
change in Europe. However, this will
involve changes to the
current lifestyles of many Europeans. Fears about job precarious-
ness are rising. The events of
the Year should be used to
broaden public support for those reforms.

The European Year 2010 should also provide a platform
1.5
for public debate on the ways of protecting and advancing
social cohesion amidst growing income disparities among
Europeans.
Innovative and integrated public policy responses
will need to be found.

— The EESC points out that a successful campaign against
poverty and exclusion requires the involvement of many
areas of policy. Thus, the fair distribution of prosperity must
be given much greater political priority than hitherto, also at
EU level.

— The objectives of the Year set out in the proposal for a deci-
sion should better reflect the importance of an active policy
to tackle poverty and social exclusion in achieving the goals
of the EU growth and jobs strategy. (1)

Their effectiveness will be predicated on continuous involvement
of the social partners and civil society organisations as well as
on active involvement and participation of citizens in local com-
munity-building.

(1) See for example the EESC opinion of 18.1.2007 on Taking stock of the
reality of European society today, point 2.2. Rapporteur: Mr Olsson (OJ
C 93, 27.4.2007); the EESC opinion of 13.7.2005 on the Communica-
tion from the Commission on the Social Agenda, point 6.1. Rappor-
teur: Mrs Engelen-Kefer (OJ C 294, 25.11.2005).

30.8.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 224/107

the operational side of

The EESC believes that

the
1.6
planned initiative is well
special
mention is the fact that the proposal takes proper account of
country-specific features assuming close cooperation with social
partners and other civil society institutions as well as direct
participation of people affected by poverty and social exclusion.

thought-out. Worthy of

1.7
The EESC welcomes the fact that the funding earmarked
for implementing the goals of the Year is the largest amount
ever assigned to such an initiative in the EU, but given the scale
of the planned measures, it nonetheless calls for this funding to
be increased.

2. Summary of the Commission proposal

2.1
The aim of the decision to designate 2010 as the Euro-
pean Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion is to
contribute to the attainment the goal of making ‘a decisive
impact on the eradication of poverty’, which was established in
the Lisbon Strategy and reaffirmed in the new European Social
Agenda for 2005-2010 (2).

2.2 Measures relating to the Year will concentrate on four
objectives:
(1) recognition that poor and socially excluded
people are entitled to a dignified life and to participate in
society, (2) ownership, i.e. all members of society taking joint
responsibility for
(3)
cohesion,
that maintaining social cohesion is in
everyone's interest and (4) commitment, stressing the political
will of the EU to treat combating poverty and social exclusion
as a priority.

reducing poverty and marginalisation,

the belief

2.3
level,
These measures, to be taken at EU and national
will include meetings and conferences, information and promo-
tional campaigns as well as studies and reports. They should
involve all the stakeholders and provide an opportunity that the
needs and views of those affected by poverty and exclusion be
voiced and heard.

2.4
A sum of EUR 17 million from the EU budget has been
earmarked for projects relating to the Year. With the addition of
anticipated co-funding from public and private bodies
in
Member States this figure may increase to EUR 26.175m.

(2) Communication from the Commission on the Social Agenda, COM

(2005) 33 final, 9.2.2005, point 2.2., p. 9.

3. General observations on the objective of the planned

initiative

The European Economic and Social Committee welcomes
3.1
the Commission proposal, which,
implemented properly,
could help to raise public awareness and stimulate public discus-
sion how to resolutely and effectively tackle poverty and social
exclusion.

if

The EESC believes that the theme of the Year is impor-
3.2
tant and topical. Not only will it be noticed by the public, but
will also help keep it focused. The EESC supports the general
and detailed objectives, the specific themes of the Year as well as
the proposed methods of implementation. The remarks below
are intended to enhance the public profile and political effective-
ness of the Year.

3.3
The protection and improvement of the quality of life of
all Europeans are predicated on their commitment that poverty
and social marginalisation need to be dealt with effectively in
the relatively affluent Europe. The events of the Year should
reinforce this commitment among Europeans of all social and
economic strata.

It is, therefore, important that the events of the year built
3.4
on the knowledge and experience accumulated since the launch
of the European strategy to combat poverty and social exclusion
by the 2000 Nice European Council. Synergies should be
ensured with the events organised by others, e.g., the Council of
Europe, in the context of the High-Level Task Force report on
social cohesion in the 21st century (3), and the United Nations,
in the context of the annual observance of October 17 — the
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

3.5
The EESC recalls that a number of issues and themes
dealt with in previous opinions (4), should find its rightful place
in the events of the Year:

— supporting modernised social policy as a truly productive
factor capable of professional activation of all able-bodied
people and social activation of all;

(3) Cf. ‘Towards an Active, Fair and Socially Cohesive Europe’ Report of
High-Level Task Force on Social Cohesion in the 21st Century, Council
of Europe, Strasbourg 26 October 2007, TFSC (2007) 31 E.

(4) EESC opinion of 13.7.2005 on ‘Communication from the Commission
on the Social Agenda’, rapporteur: Mrs Engelen-Kefer (OJ C 294 of
25.11.2005); EESC opinion of 29.9.2005 on ‘Poverty among women
in Europe’, rapporteur: Mrs King (OJ C 24 of 31.1.2006); EESC opinion
of 6.7.2006 on ‘Social cohesion: fleshing out a European social model’,
rapporteur: Mr Ehnmark (OJ C 309 of 16.12.2006); EESC opinion of
13.12.2006 on ‘Voluntary activity: its role in European society and its
impact’, rapporteur: Ms Koller and co-rapporteur: Ms Gräfin zu Eulen-
burg (OJ C 325 of 30.12.2006); EESC opinion of 18.1.2007 on ‘Taking
stock of the reality of European society today’, rapporteur: Mr Olsson
(OJ C 93 of 27.4.2007); EESC opinion of 25.10.2007 on ‘Credit and
social exclusion in an affluent society’, rapporteur: Mr Pegado Liz (OJ C
44 of 16.2.2008); EESC opinion of 13.12 2007 on ‘Communication
from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the
European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions on Promoting solidarity between the generations’, rapporteur:
Mr Jahier (OJ C 120 of 16.05.2008).

C 224/108

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.8.2008

— modernisation of

the European Social Model, broadly
conceived, so that it can successfully address the new chal-
lenges in the areas of employment, social
inclusion and
combating poverty, and the social effects of globalisation, to
maintain Europe as ‘a democratic, green, competitive, soli-
darity-based and socially inclusive welfare area for all [its]
citizens …’ (5);

Below, the EESC develops some aspects of those ideas, as espe-
cially relevant to the events of the Year.

During the Year, particular attention should be drawn to

3.6
the following possible positive measures:

— the need for more effective policies directed at

labour
market integration of groups discriminated against or other-
in particular the working poor and
wise disadvantaged,
people in precarious jobs (6);

— the impact of the fight against undeclared work;

— active measures to help people back into work;

‘the European Social Model

— the need for an open public debate and support for the
direction of
that modernisation toward activation to
employment and social participation; EESC has stressed that
if
is to be of value in the
shaping of the European society of tomorrow, it has to be a
dynamic model, open for challenge, change and reform’ and
that ‘the European Social Model will be relevant only as long
as it
is appreciated and supported by the citizens of
Europe’; (7)

— strong emphasis on local action, social partner, civil society
involvement and encouragement as well as appreciation of
civic activism, especially in combating poverty and social
exclusion;

employment

— the need for comprehensive approaches, reaching beyond
traditional
toward
and
economic, educational, regional, cultural, and infrastructural
policies, especially in combating poverty and social exclu-
sion;

policies,

social

— acknowledging and recognising that men and women
experience poverty differently and that social policies should
be crafted accordingly;

— the need for a more effective Open Method of Coordination
at the European level in the area of combating poverty and
social exclusion;

— placing action against poverty and social exclusion in the
international context, especially by promoting basic rights at
work and decent working standards throughout the world.

(5) See EESC opinion of 6.7.2006 on ‘Social cohesion: fleshing out a Euro-
pean social model’, § 2.1.2.5. Rapporteur: Mr Ehnmark (OJ C 309 of
16.12.2006).

(6) Cf. EESC own-initiative opinion of 12.7.2007 on Employment of
priority categories (Lisbon Strategy), rapporteur: Mr Greif (OJ C 256,
27.10.2007).

(7) See EESC opinion of 6.7.2006 on ‘Social cohesion: fleshing out a Euro-
pean social model’, §§ 1.8, 1.9. Rapporteur: Mr Ehnmark (OJ C 309 of
16.12.2006).

— investment in industrial activities and services that generate
jobs and an assessment of potential negative or exacerbating
impacts, including:

— the future economic growth, during and after the Year for

Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion;

— the energy and food situation of

the most vulnerable
communities or communities living in poverty or extreme
poverty.

4. Get the message across more effectively

4.1
The decision establishing the Year for Combating Poverty
and Social Exclusion highlights that 78 million people in the
EU, i.e. 16 % of the population, are at risk of poverty. The EESC
believes that to convey the political message of the Year effec-
tively, alongside the usual indicator of relative income poverty,
other measures of poverty, showing its persistence and actual
deprivation many Europeans still suffer from should also be
referred to and used. Consequently,
the Year
should equally refer to a comprehensive set of indicators of rela-
tive and absolute poverty to sensitise the general public to the
situations which they represent and instil the sense of their
intolerability.

the events of

Furthermore, the EESC points out that the indicators
4.2
used ‘describe’ the problem of poverty and social exclusion.
With the challenges to social cohesion in the EU and the
resulting modernisation of
it is
important that those indicators imply a balanced public policy
response, comprising of better income redistribution and prop-
erly financed and managed policies of flexicurity in the labour
market and of active inclusion. Such ‘dynamic model’ of social
and employment policies the EESC suggested in its respective
opinion (8).

the European Social Model,

(8) See EESC opinion of 6.7.2006 on ‘Social cohesion: fleshing out a Euro-
pean social model’, § 2.4. Rapporteur: Mr Ehnmark (OJ C 309 of
16.12.2006).

30.8.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 224/109

4.3
The EESC welcomes the fact that the Commission has
recognised that the multifaceted nature of poverty and social
exclusion requires adequate measures. In the Communication on
the European Social Agenda for the period 2005-2010, which
set out, inter alia, to persuade Member States to consolidate, inte-
grate and streamline measures to combat poverty and social
exclusion, the Commission rightly complemented the relative
poverty indicator with that of persistent poverty (9). When later
proposing that social protection, healthcare and long-term care
also be subject to enhanced coordination, the Commission drew
attention to the need for greater emphasis on ‘indicators
measuring deprivation’ (10).

In view of the above, the EESC believes that the decision
4.4
on the European Year 2010 should be based on measures of
poverty which better bring out the scale of deprivation, the
areas affected and the depth of the problem. This would increase
public awareness and support for labour market and social
levels, addressed to
protection policies at EU and national
people and communities threatened or affected by deep and
absolute poverty (11).

5. The main themes of the Year, its objectives and types of

activities

5.1
Poverty is a multifaceted phenomenon with risks distrib-
uted unevenly in society. Especially when compounded, they
render certain groups particularly vulnerable.

(9) The rate of persistent poverty shows the number of people affected by
relative poverty in two of the last three years. (definition by EURO-
STAT).

(10) Communication from the Commission Working together, working
better: A new framework for the open method of coordination of
social protection and inclusion policies in the European Union, COM
(2005) 706 final, 22.12.2005, point 3.5, p. 9.

(11) In its opinions the EESC has often referred to more specific descrip-
tions of poverty, e.g., turning attention to categories of people who
‘suffer hardship’ and ‘are greatly disadvantaged’ (EESC opinion of
13.12.2007 on ‘Communication from the Commission to the Euro-
pean Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions on Promoting solidarity
between the generations’, §2.5, rapporteur: Mr Jahier, OJ C 120 of
16.5.2008), to persistent poverty (EESC opinion of 29.9.2005 on
‘Poverty among women in Europe’, §1.7, rapporteur: Mrs King, OJ C
24 of 31.01.2006), and to poverty ‘in qualitative terms’, meaning ‘a
lack or inadequacy of material resources for meeting the vital needs of
an individual’ (EESC opinion of 25.10.2007 on ‘Credit and social
exclusion in an affluent society’, §3.1.3, rapporteur: Mr Pegado Liz, OJ
C 44 of 16.2.2008). On one occasion it even stated: ‘The Committee
strongly recommends that the Commission revisits the definition of
poverty as it only highlights the overt causes of poverty and underesti-
mates the level [of] the poverty of women and the impact of that
poverty’ (EESC opinion of 29.9.2005 on ‘Poverty among women in
Europe’, §2.1, rapporteur: Mrs King, OJ C 24 of 31.1.2006). Naturally,
that deficiency of the relative poverty measure does not only apply to
women poverty, but to poverty generally.

5.2
Poverty is usually related to unemployment, especially
long-term unemployment. Therefore, as the 2007 Joint Report on
Social Protection and Social Inclusion–JIR reads, ‘[a] job is the best
safeguard against poverty and social exclusion....’ (12) But, as the
JIR also states, it cannot be the only safeguard. The phenom-
enon of the working poor makes that strikingly evident.

5.3
Poverty may also be related to low skills or lack of skills
required in an available job or to skills not adequate to hold a
quality job, offering adequate wage. Groups especially suscep-
tible to this risk are young people, particularly early drop-outs,
and the older workers.

5.4
People may be trapped into poverty by poorly structured
income support systems which discourage activity in the official
labour market and ultimately condemn them to poverty also in
the old age.

5.5
Family structure may also be a risk: single-earner families,
especially when headed by single-parents, families with three or
more children. Family breakdown or loss of job, causing the
loss of home is a potentially dangerous situation.

5.6
Similarly, persons of poor health (e.g. due to age), cogni-
tive limitations, persons with disabilities, especially when low-
skilled, substance abusers, are also groups at great risk.

Also at risk are persons living in peripheral or otherwise

5.7
underprivileged areas.

5.8
A special at-risk-of-poverty category form migrants and
ethnic minorities who apart from often inadequate social and
language skills and/or cultural adjustment, may be also discrimi-
nated against.

The examples listed above show the magnitude of the
5.9
challenge involved and the complexity of effective public policy
responses. If poverty and social exclusion are to be significantly
reduced, efforts by public authorities of all
levels need to be
complemented by these of the social partners, the civil society
organisations, and of the individuals. They also reveal a paradox:

(12) Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2007, European

Commission (European Communities: 2007), p. 45.

C 224/110

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.8.2008

if all able-bodied persons are to be socially integrated primarily
through employment
to contribute to Europe's economic
growth and alleviate its population decline, more and better
support systems and programs are needed, rather than less.
Those should be the two leading themes of the Year.

5.10
The EESC believes that the general and specific objec-
tives of the Year as well as the chosen activity themes seek to
achieve a new balance between the social requirement to be
economically active and the individual's need for security. The
need for such an adjustment stems from globalisation, demo-
graphic change, technological progress and the evolution of the
European labour market, involving significant changes in the life
style of many Europeans. Furthermore, labour market and social
policies need to be modernised and improved to facilitate the
necessary transitions and provide people with a sustainable
safety net that is properly managed and financed. While some
take advantage of the opportunities of the new labour markets
and activation programs, others perceive them as threatening to
their social and professional status. In view of the EESC, the
events of the Year ought to address those genuine concerns (13).

the importance of an active policy to tackle poverty and social
exclusion in achieving the goals of the EU growth and jobs
strategy (16). That a modernised and enhanced social policy
improves the functioning of the labour market and contributes
to job creation should be better communicated and convincingly
evidenced in the events of the Year. Likewise, that properly
designed income support measures benefit
those at risk of
unemployment and social marginalisation by reducing the
labour
various pressures that displace them from the official
market; they thus contribute to the reduction of the informal
economy.

5.12
require further clarification.

The draft decision includes several statements which

The EESC points out that referring to ‘children,

lone
5.13
parents, the elderly, migrants and ethnic minorities, disabled
people, the homeless, prisoners, women and children who are
victims of violence, and severe substance abusers’ (17) as groups
that are particularly at risk of poverty and social exclusion,
without further qualifying them, might have the opposite of the
desired effect. These groups encompass both people who are at
risk of poverty and those who are not. As indicated above, it is
usually the lack of adequate skills and/or high ratio of family
members to income-earners that put these categories of people
at risk of poverty.

5.11 When it comes to people at risk of unemployment and/
or social exclusion, current emphasis on labour market activa-
tion of all people capable of working allows the society to make
use of their talents while satisfying the individual need for voca-
tional and social advancement (14). Apart
from appropriate
income support, an increasing emphasis is also being placed on
better access of all to social services, particularly to those which
help individuals to improve, update or change their qualifica-
tions or help them to maintain their health. Yet, to benefit from
those opportunities, one is asked for far more individual activity,
effort and cooperation with various
initiative,
support services than ever before. There is a real need to
communicate the purpose of policies requiring that effort to
gain public support for them (15). Events of the Year should help
to achieve this. The objectives of the Year should better reflect

intellectual

6. Social cohesion and the persistence and growth of

income disparities

6.1
The European Year 2010 can also provide an opportu-
nity for public debate on the existing and new challenges to
social solidarity and social cohesion as Europe moves toward
the knowledge-based society and economy and cope with the
demographic change (18). Such reflection is particularly needed
in a continent which does have the means to decisively reduce
poverty and social exclusion.

(13) See EESC opinion of 6.7.2006 on ‘Social cohesion: fleshing out a Euro-
pean social model’, esp. §§ 1.6–1.8, 2.3.1–2.3.5. Rapporteur: Mr
Ehnmark (OJ C 309 of 16.12.2006). See also EESC opinion of
18.1.2007 on ‘Taking stock of the reality of European society today’,
esp. § 2.4. Rapporteur: Mr Olsson (OJ C 93 of 27.4.2007).

(14) The social situation in the European Union 2005-2006: The Balance
between Generations in an Ageing Europe, European Commission, (Euro-
pean Communities: 2007), p. 17, summarizes the survey of life satis-
faction of EU citizens, that ‘the importance of jobs for life satisfaction
goes far beyond the income they procure’.

(15) ‘Take the issues to the citizens of Europe’ was a key recommendation
of the EESC opinion of 6.7.2006 on ‘Social cohesion: fleshing out a
European social model’, §2.6. Rapporteur: Mr Ehnmark (OJ C 309 of
16.12.2006).

(16) Cf. e.g., EESC opinion of 18.1.2007 on ‘Taking stock of the reality of
European society today’, § 2.2. Rapporteur: Mr Olsson (OJ C 93 of
27.4.2007); EESC opinion of 13.7.2005 on ‘Communication from the
Commission on the Social Agenda’, § 6.1. Rapporteur: Mrs Engelen-
Kefer (OJ C 294 of 25.11.2005).

(17) Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council
on the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
(2010), [COM(2007) 797 final, 2007/0278 (COD)], 12.12.2007,
Preamble, para. (11), p. 9.

(18) The EESC was concerned with some ‘social effects of the knowledge
revolution’ and suggested that they need to be addressed by the social
dialogue already in its opinion of 6.7.2006 on ‘Social cohesion:
fleshing out a European social model’, §2.4.5. Rapporteur: Mr
Ehnmark (OJ C 309 of 16.12.2006).

30.8.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 224/111

6.2 Meanwhile, too many young people do not have, upon
leaving schools, the literacy and numeracy skills required for a
successful career in the new economy. Effective remedies are
needed not only to stave off their social marginalisation but also
to satisfy the economy's demand for quality workers. Further-
more, Europe faces growing bifurcation of the labour market
into the high-skilled, high-paying segment and the low-skilled,
low-paying one, resulting in income disparities. A vision of
maintaining social justice and social cohesion while preserving
the competitiveness of EU in the global economy needs to be
developed and accepted by the Europeans.

climb out of unemployment and poverty (thus contributing to
societal cohesion) is restricted to employers, governments and
the beneficiaries of
labour market and social protection
programs. Instead, they should drive home the message that this
responsibility rests with every citizen.

6.6
Another issue worth considering is that amidst persistent
or even growing economic disparities, maintenance of social
cohesion may also be facilitated by developing high-quality
public spaces
libraries,
parks, recreational facilities), where people of various walks of
life and varying social and economic status would want to
congregate and spend time.

schools, universities,

(urban spaces,

6.3
Top-down measures by governments will not ensure
social cohesion unless complemented by grassroots initiatives of
the citizens. In the same way that the Nice European Council of
2000 recognised the participation of civil society organisations
as the key to effectively mobilising efforts to combat poverty
and social exclusion, the EESC believes that the importance of
individual
involvement of all citizens in building inclusive
communities should also be acknowledged and encouraged
throughout the Year. In this context, it would be important to
convey the message that civic involvement is in the interest of
every member of the community, irrespective of their economic
or social status.

6.7 Most of the new challenges and dilemmas facing social
cohesion and public policy may be addressed under the general
objectives of the draft decision. They should, however, be better
articulated to stimulate useful public debate over the course of
the Year. The possible courses of action to promote social cohe-
sion proposed here may complement the 2010 debate on the
ideas of active social inclusion and effective labour market poli-
cies.

EESC recalls its opinion on voluntary activity which, inter
6.4
alia, reads that ‘governments of the Member States should be
encouraged to frame national policies on voluntary activity and
strategies ensuring that voluntary activity is encouraged and
recognised. These national policies should also cover the role of
infrastructure in facilitating voluntary activity.’ (19) It implies that
people wishing to offer their time and skills for the commu-
nities in which they live should, at
the minimum, not be
deterred from doing so by any legal or bureaucratic obsta-
cles. (20) While the EESC still holds that voluntary activity
deserves a separate European Year, relevant aspects of civic
participation should be highlighted also in the events of the
Year 2010.

7. Social policy in the broad sense

7.1
In the EESC's view, the proposed concept for the Year,
particularly the range of activities, will also make it possible to
highlight and raise awareness of
the fact that achieving the
Lisbon Strategy goal of making a decisive impact on eradicating
poverty and social exclusion by 2010 will require multi-facetted
measures (21).

7.2
Educational measures carried out over the course of the
Year should include building public awareness in individual
Member States of the factors that determine the size of a future
pension and encourage people to take steps that can secure
them a decent life in retirement.

6.5
EESC urges that the events of the Year should avoid
giving an impression that under the currently promoted policies
of flexicurity and active inclusion, the requirement of effort to

(19) EESC opinion of 13.12.2006 on ‘Voluntary activity: its role in Euro-
pean society and its impact’, § 1.2. Rapporteur: Ms Koller and co-
rapporteur: Ms Gräfin zu Eulenburg (OJ C 325 of 30.12.2006).

(20) EESC opinion of 13.12.2007 on ‘Communication from the Commis-
sion to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of
the Regions on
Promoting solidarity between the generations’ stresses the benefits of
civic involvement also by elderly people and urges more research into
the issue of active aging, § 4.5., rapporteur: Mr Jahier (OJ C 120 of
16.5.2008).

7.3
The EESC believes that the issue of how the European
Central Bank might use its powers under the Treaty to join in
efforts to combat poverty and social exclusion also deserves
attention in the events of the Year.

(21) Although the Lisbon Strategy ends in 2010, it is a permanent point of
reference as regards programme documents and concrete measures at
EU and national level. Although no decision has yet been taken, the
Lisbon Strategy can be expected to continue in some form after 2010,
especially as the Strategy's employment and social goals will not be
fully realised by 2010.

C 224/112

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

30.8.2008

8.2
The emphasis placed on the participation of the social
partners and civil society organisations in achieving the objec-
tives of the Year reflects their indispensability in achieving the
social agenda of the Lisbon Strategy, which has been affirmed in
2000 by the Nice European Council in the European strategy to
combat poverty and social exclusion. Today more than ever,
government action must be complemented, corrected and
consolidated by means of grass-root initiatives. It is also impor-
tant that in the design and implementation of social policy, the
voice of those it seeks to support is duly heard. It is therefore
appropriate that
these organisations have been invited to
actively cooperate in implementing the goals of the European
Year 2010.

that

The Committee welcomes the fact

8.3
the funding
earmarked for implementing the goals of the Year is the highest
amount ever appropriated in the EU to such an initiative.
However, having considered the detailed measures listed in the
Annex to the proposed decision, the EESC calls for increased
funding for measures associated with the Year to ensure effec-
tiveness.

The EESC also welcomes the fact that in designing and
8.4
implementing the activities of the Year, the different ways in
which men and women experience poverty and social exclusion
will be recognised.

The EESC believes that the priorities of the European
8.5
Year, listed in the Annex, should be expanded to cover poverty
among
issues
surrounding persons with disabilities should be considered sepa-
rately and not lumped together with those concerning other
vulnerable groups.

employment.

precarious

people

The

in

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Dimitris DIMITRIADIS

7.4
The EESC believes it needs to be shown that social
marginalisation could be curtailed by policies transcending the
traditional realm of labour market and social protections, such
as spatial planning policies preventing ghettoization of poverty,
transportation policies reducing geographic barriers to social
mobility, and economic policies developing peripheral areas and
underpinning services of general interest and distribution policy,
in order to reverse the trend which has been observed for years
towards ever greater disparities between rich and poor.

7.5
In this connection, the EESC draws attention to differ-
ences between national circumstances, which have become
more marked since EU enlargement. As stated in one study,
‘even “the poorest” in “rich” Member States suffer less depriva-
tion than “the most well-off” in “poor states”’ (22). This highlights
the importance of effective action toward socio-economic cohe-
sion and reduction of current economic disparities across the
EU to diminish the areas of deprivation and social exclusion.
This, in turn, would enable further development of the Open
Method of Coordination of social policy in the EU. (23) It is a
point worth special attention and consideration in the events of
the Year.

8. Comments on the implementation of

the planned

initiative

8.1
The EESC believes that the operational side of the Year
has been well thought out as it takes appropriate account of
national priorities and sensibilities (such as the delicate matter
of the labour market and social integration of immigrants and
ethnic minorities). The fact that it establishes close cooperation
with social partners and civil society institutions is also impor-
tant.

Brussels, 29 May 2008.

(22) Anne-Catherine Guio,

‘Material deprivation in the EU’, Statistics in
Focus: Population and Social Conditions, Living Conditions and Welfare,
21/2005, Eurostat, p. 9.

(23) EESC opinion of 18.1.2007 on ‘Taking stock of the reality of European
society today’, § 2.7, 5.3. Rapporteur: Mr Olsson (OJ C 93 of
27.4.2007).