A “Plan D” for the Lisbon Strategy: that’s what the European Churches and diaconal organizations have proposed to the German Chancellor and current President of the EU Council, Angela Merkel, on the eve of the spring summit of the European Council, which ends in Brussels today (9 March). The Conference of European Churches (Cec/Kek representing 126 Churches of Orthodox, Protestant and Old Catholic tradition throughout Europe) and Eurodiaconia, an association of churches and NGOs offering social and educational services founded on Christian values, have expressed “concern for the over 72 million Europeans at risk of poverty” and propose a “four-d Plan”: delivery, democracy, re-distribution and dignity. In their joint document the two organizations ask that “the efforts of member states to curb poverty and social exclusion” be more effective, and that “national parliaments and civil society be more involved in the Lisbon process” (democracy). Faced by the “growing gap between rich and poor”, the document underlines that “solidarity is the precondition for a cohesive society” (re-distribution). Lastly CEC and Eurodiaconia express their appreciation for the efforts being made by the EU to “reinforce people’s skills”, but point out that “the concept of human capital is too restrictive if it considers people merely as productive factors” (dignity).
