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Opinion: A new beginning?

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urlSocial Platform welcomes the acknowledgement that social exclusion, poverty, unemployment and inequalities need to be tackled in the Strategic Agenda endorsed on 27 June by the European Council. However we are cautious about how this Strategic Agenda will be translated into concrete EU policy over the next years to ensure a rebalancing of economic policies and social policies.

“We are pleased to see the inclusion of some social concerns within the five priorities of this Strategic Agenda but it is not enough. With the election of a new Parliament and the opening of a new legislative cycle now is the time for our leaders to put their words into actions and commitments. The EU needs to put in place concrete action plans to tackle the social deficit and to ensure the wellbeing of people living in its territory” said Social Platform President Heather Roy.

The five key priorities of the Strategic Agenda outlined on 27 June recognize the social deficit in the EU today including high levels of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion and inequality. Yet the priorities outlined to tackle this deficit are open to interpretation. Therefore Social Platform calls on the EU and member states to at the least:

  • Ensure that when taking steps to strengthen the economy with more job creation these are sustainable and of high quality.
  • Take up a social investment approach when organising social protection systems to be efficient and fit for the future, in order to fight inequalities as well as poverty and social exclusion.
  • Develop a strong social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union, by putting in place binding social objectives, to reinforce the EMU as a resilient factor of inclusive growth and solidarity.
  • Ensure that a Union of freedom, security and Justice protects human rights both inside and outside its borders.

About Social Platform

The Platform of European Social NGOs (Social Platform) is the alliance of representative European federations and networks of non-governmental organisations active in the social sector, promoting social justice and participatory democracy by voicing the concerns of its member organisations. Social Platform and its members are committed to the advancement of the principles of equality, solidarity, non-discrimination and the promotion and respect of fundamental rights for all, within Europe and in particular the European Union.

For more information visit www.socialplatform.org

 

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