Justice for the poor

Fourteen policy recommendations are proposed to the EU institutions and to the Members States to build “a stronger social Europe”, but, most importantly, to combat poverty and social exclusion in the European Union. They have been included in a report entitled “Do Not Deny Justice to Your Poor People” drafted by a group of associations and organisms linked to the Churches, which include Caritas Europa, the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CSC of CEC), the Secretariat of the Commission of the Bishops ‘Conferences in the European Community (Comece) and Eurodiaconia. On the basis of the common reference to the Charta Oecumenica, which states “On the basis of our Christian faith, we work towards a humane, socially conscious Europe, in which human rights and the basic values of peace, justice, freedom, tolerance, participation and solidarity prevail”, the Churches have drafted a document that describes the situation in the European continent, defines what “poverty” stands for, explains the ethical foundation of the proposals made by the Churches and formulates a number of policy recommendations. But most importantly, it launches an appeal: “We call on the European Union and its Member States for a strong political commitment to work towards a society that will focus on the well-being of all people and enable everyone to live in dignity”.Poverty in Europe. Lifting 20 million people out of poverty by 2020: this is the goal set by the European Council. At European level, there are three poverty indicators: relative poverty, material deprivation and jobless households, although every State can change them based on its specific situation. However, the Churches denounce, “the lack of political incentives for Member States might hinder the practical implementation of this strategy”. The fight against poverty was launched in 2000, but the ensuing financial and economic crisis which hit Europe has worsened the social situation of the continent, to the extent that the number of people at risk of poverty (living with 60% less of the average salary) passed from 80 to 84 millions. In percentage, we passed from 16% to 17% of the European population. The right to a dignified life for all. Poverty should be combated not only because it forces people to live in material deprivation, but also because it “takes away the means and possibilities for those individuals affected to participate fully in society. It places them in vulnerable and often stigmatised positions”. For this reason Christians appeal to the right of “every human being (…) to live in dignity”, respecting “their capacities, to contribute to and participate in society”, based on the guiding principles of the universal destination of goods to serve all humankind and the future generations, of equal accessibility of goods and services for all.Solidarity and justice. 2010 was the year when the stability of the Euro and of the European monetary union was most severely challenged. And it was also the year – as observed by the Churches in the document – in which the European institutions had to think of instruments which, beyond the short-term management of the crisis, could propose in the long term a reform of the current socio-economic model “on the basis of solidarity and justice”. For this reason the Churches, in the light of their experiences an convictions, and after analysing the causes and effects of poverty, present their recommendations to the EU institutions, and to the Member States, for a stronger social Europe. The 14 recommendations. The Churches call for the implementation of a new social clause in the annual policy strategy of the European Commission and for the President of the European Council to acknowledge this clause. The Churches consider it necessary that the EU and the Member States do their utmost, in cooperation with civil society, the Churches, Caritas and Diaconal organizations, to ensure equal access for all to “services of general interest”, as well as the guarantee of minimum wages to combat the phenomenon of the working poor. The document also considers the issue of housing. Another request is that of promoting new and alternative consumption styles and using new indicators to measure the impact of poverty and social exclusion on men and women. The Churches are particularly concerned about the condition of unpaid workers, so that they too be recognized the right to health care and pension. The institutions are asked to support families at risk of poverty as well as protect Sunday as a weekly rest day. Moreover, the Churches call for a stronger involvement in the European Platform against poverty of the representatives of civil society and the Churches. The last recommendation asks for the objective of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty to become the primary objective of the European Union.