In the past few days the European Commission presented an integrated Plan aimed at the fight against poverty and for the inclusion of citizens marginalized from the job market. It is an “active inclusion”, a strategic initiative included in the provisions of Europe’s Social Agenda aimed at achieving greater results in the area of social justice and economic cohesion. According to the Commissioner in charge of Social Affairs, Employment and Equal Opportunities Vladimir Spidla, Brussels’ rallying cry is: multi-folded integrated solutions to multi-folded disadvantages since “social integration and market opportunities go hand in hand”. Community strategy is based on three key elements: appropriate income support (crossing the threshold of poverty and allowing adequate housing), access to inclusive job markets (with stable jobs tailored to individual needs in order to “contribute to social integration and increase job placement”) as well as the quality of social services. The Commission will ask Member States – regional and local authorities in particular – to be committed ‘with no reservations’ for the good outcome of the Plan using the grants of the European Social Fund in the most cost-effective way.
