In the course of its meeting on 10 October, the European Commission adopted a draft joint report on social inclusion, based on the analysis of the national plans of action relating to the policies of the fight against poverty and social exclusion of the individual member States. The draft follows up an invitation addressed to the Executive by the European Council in Nice to identity the innovative practices and measures in the sector. The document, divided into two parts, first examines a series of “risk factors”, old and new, potential generators of poverty. On the basis of 14 indicators shared at the Community level, the data according to which 9% of the European population permanently live below the minimum poverty threshold and a further 9% “in danger of poverty”, are confirmed. Also examined are the “eight fundamental challenges” which the member States are called to tackle through national plans of action: they include the development of an inclusive labour market and the promotion of employment as a right and an opportunity for everyone; the guarantee of income and resources adequate for a “decent standard of life”; and the safeguard of family solidarity and the rights of children. Presenting the draft report, the Commissioner for Social Affairs, Anna Diamantopoulou, emphasized the fact that “the European Union is showing its collective political will to devote itself not only to the economy, but also to poverty and social exclusion”. Following the approval of the report, the cooperation between member States could in fact benefit from the 75 million euros allocated to the new five-year programme of partnership in the fight against poverty. The draft report will now pass to the examination of the Council and will be presented to the Laeken summit on 14/15 December.¤
