The European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion The European Union proclaimed 2010 the "European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion". The program of the Year will be presented during the conference titled "Poverty between perception and reality. The challenge of communication" scheduled for next October 28-29 in Brussels and addressed to politicians, NGOs, volunteer associations and journalists. Live webcasts of the debates can be seen by logging on http://2010againstpoverty.eu, purposely created for the event. "The first day will be devoted to a seminar for journalists specialized in social issues", the organizers explained. "Participants will be informed on a series of projects to combat poverty already launched in Brussels". The second day a survey carried out by Eurobarometer "regarding Europeans’ perception of the economic crisis’ social consequences" will be presented to 400 participants. The findings of the survey will be previously presented to journalists in order to raise public-awareness on poverty in Europe and on the objectives of the special Year through news reports. The Commission recalled that almost 80 million EU citizens live on the verge of poverty. "Despite the overall improvement in the living conditions of Europeans over the past ten years, poverty and social exclusion are reasons for concern across several Member States". The next European Year includes among its objectives to "Encourage involvement and political commitment from each and every segment of society to participate in the fight against poverty and social exclusion from the European to the local level, whether public or private"; "Inspire each and every European citizen to participate in the fight against poverty"; "Engage with civil society and non-governmental organizations" that fight poverty and social exclusion; "Help deconstruct stereotypes and stigmas attached to poverty"; "Boost solidarity between generations".4000 registered for the European Development DaysHeads of government and State, international experts, civil society representatives, opinion-leaders: according to estimates by the EU Swedish Presidency-in-office, 4000 people are expected to attend the fourth European Development Days which this year will be held in Stockholm on 22-24 October. Participants will be arriving from 125 different Countries "to discuss possible solutions to the slowdown in the economy and the climate changes, along with the challenges to democracy and development" at global level. EU presidency underlined, "the 2009 Days are taking place one month before the G20 in Pittsburgh and six weeks before the UN Copenhagen Conference on Climate Changes". Five plenary sessions figure on the agenda and 25 events, which include a "Development village" with a stand representing 150 NGOs. Registered participants include José Manuel Barroso, EU Commission president, Fredrik Reinfeldt, Swedish Premier, Jerzy Buzek, president of the European Parliament, the presidents and the prime ministers of several developing Countries, international financial institutes’ CEOs and several Nobel prize winners. In view of the Stockholm Days Eurobarometer carried out a survey on this issue. Accordingly, 90% of EU citizens "continue considering" poor countries’ development important. However "74% of Europeans never heard about the Millennium Development Goals". The final report shows that 72% of interviewees "believe that the commitments in favor of developing Countries need to be fulfilled and that engagement must be stepped up". The findings of the survey show that world trade development, fighting terrorism, monitoring migration flows and political relations with third countries are considered valid reasons for granting aid to poorer Countries. Buzek awards press, the Internet, radio and television journalists Last week, EP president Jerzy Buzek awarded the 2009 Journalism prize "for work that promotes better understanding of EU institutions or policies". During the ceremony Buzek declared, “Without you, the journalists, we cannot improve the functioning of the EU, we cannot inform our citizens or keep them closer to the EU”. This year’s recipients were: German journalist Ines Possemeyer (written press prize), (Szlankó Bálint (internet, Hungary) Zbigniew Plesner (radio, Poland). Elke Sasser and Kristian Kahler received the prize for best television journalism (Germany). Each winner of this second edition (out of 266 participants) was awarded with a 5thousand euro check.
