The European Commission has presented its joint Report on social protection and inclusion 2007, analysing the progress and priorities of member states in terms of social inclusion, pensions, healthcare and long-term care. “Encouraging reforms, but major problems still remain unresolved”, commented the European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs Vladimir Spidla in presenting the Report: “If it is true that 16% of Europeans are at risk of poverty and that 10% live in families without work – added Spidla – it’s also true that by permitting each country to profit from the experiences of others and by stimulating them to fix common objectives, Europe can give an effective added value to national efforts to increase social cohesion”. The Report emphasizes four priorities: the commitment to reduce child poverty; the reinforcement of so-called “active inclusion” for the more disadvantaged; the reduction of national disparities in terms of healthcare; and the reform of pension systems. The joint Report will be discussed during the forthcoming Summit of Eu heads of state and of government.
