Candidates in the coming European Parliament elections have been urged to support the introduction of new measures aimed at tackling poverty and social exclusion throughout the EU.
The European Anti-Poverty Network yesterday challenged candidates to explain how they would use their positions as MEPs to make changes in the area. The group also called on the media and political parties to facilitate a debate on poverty issues in the run-up to the elections.
Ms Maria Hegarty, a board member of EAPN Ireland, said "we must never fail to be shocked" by the fact that more than 57 million people were found to be living below the poverty line in the EU in 1994, the last year for which figures were available.
Specific issues which should be addressed by Irish candidates, she said, were the implementation of the Government's Anti-Poverty Strategy and the high level of child poverty here.
EAPN's European chairman, Mr Fintan Farrell, said "the debate on poverty has been very much stifled. It has never been an issue in European Parliament elections."
Mr Farrell urged candidates to support the introduction of a European anti-poverty strategy, using EAPN's 10-point plan as a guide. Published yesterday, the plan urged the EU, in brief, to:
(1) Bring into the mainstream of EU policies and programmes the combating of poverty and social exclusion;
(2) Set ambitious new common objectives on poverty which would be reviewed annually by the Council of Ministers;
(3) Set up an observer unit to monitor poverty levels in member-states as well as policies and practices;
(4) Promote the exchange of good practice between different local, regional and national governments;
(5) Revive and strengthen the 1992 European Council recommendation on the convergence of social policy objectives, and introduce new mandatory targets;
(6) Take account of the need to support social protection systems and public services in formulating economic policy guidelines;
(7) Lay more stress on the quality of training and jobs in employment guidelines;
(8) Include in the future European pact on employment a major job-creation programme;
(9) Assess what impact the enlargement process would have on poverty and social inclusion in applicant countries and current member-states;
(10) Initiate a process of Treaty revision with a view to submitting the adoption of annual economic policy guidelines to the democratic process and providing a legal basis and mechanisms for the effective guarantee of civic and social rights for all EU citizens.
