Together against poverty

Churches are crucial partners in combating poverty, according to László Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities at the seminary on “Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Framework of the EU 2020 Strategy”, held July 9 at the European Commission in Rue de la Loi, Brussels, on the initiative of the Bureau of European Policy Advisors of the same Commission, of the Church and Society Commission, (CsC), of the Conference of European Churches (KEK), and of the Secretariat of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE). The Churches, “significant partners”. In the dialogue seminar with the European Commission, “the Churches in Europe expressed their commitment to intensify their cooperation with the European Union to combat poverty and social exclusion” and “expressed their interest in actively participating in the work of the European Platform against poverty which is being set up” by EU27, is written in the final declaration issued by COMECE. Commissioner Andor, states the communique’, “welcomed the seminar as an occasion for exchange with the Churches”. Andor illustrated the objectives of the 2020 strategy, which calls for three key-requirements for economic growth, which must be intelligent, sustainable and inclusive. Before the crisis there were 80 million poor people in Europe. The Commissioner underlined the Commission’s target of decreasing poverty by 25% by 2020 and stressed the Churches’ importance as “significant partners” in the achievement of this goal. “Sound cooperation”. “As Churches we are ready to share our expertise and practical experience in combating poverty and social exclusion” stated Archbishop Jukka Paarma (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland). In particular, he added, “We hope, for instance, to be involved in the work of the European Platform. We call for a stronger political commitment to combat poverty, enabling all people to live in dignity.” In underlining the global dimension of the phenomenon, Msgr. Giuseppe Merisi, bishop of Lodi and President of Caritas Italy, called on Europe to also promote “a globalisation of solidarity and of the related values of equity, justice and freedom!.”We are aware of the fact that the respective roles of the Churches and the Institutions are different, but we also think that a sounder cooperation between them should develop, which should also include citizens and social bodies”, he said. The dialogue seminars, COMECE explains, “have a longstanding tradition in the cooperation between the European Commission and the Churches in Europe. Since their beginning in the early 1990s, they have proved to be a significant discussion forum for matters of common concern. They represent an important element of the open, transparent and regular dialogue between the European Commission and the Churches” in Europe. Next meeting July 19. The EU Commission, acknowledging that “Churches and Church-based organisations are major social actors in the EU”, and that with their “longstanding record of combating poverty”, they have “an intimate knowledge” of the situation, announced the Summit meeting of Religious leaders with the EU, scheduled for 19 July at the European Commission Central Office, in Berlaymont building. Member States will be represented by Commission president Josè Manuel Barroso; European Council president Herman van Rompuy and EP President Jerzy Buzek. The religious leaders from 14 States will represent the Christian communities (Catholics, Orthodox, Reformed), and the Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities. The Catholic Church is being represented by Cardinal Peter Erdo, primate of Hungary and president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), and the archbishop of Rotterdam and COMECE president Msgr. Adrianus van Luyn. This year’s meeting will focus on “possible means and initiatives for combating poverty and social exclusion” Promoted on initiative of the president of the European Commission, these annual meetings are held since 2005.