26/04/2007: Joint meeting of the Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood and the Fourth World European Committee Intergroup co-chaired by Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Mr Mendez de Vigo.
The Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood, together with the Fourth World European Committee Intergroup, organised yesterday in the EP in Strasbourg a meeting on the evolution of the social and family situation in Europe since the establishment of the European Community, as well as on the integration of these dimensions in the negotiations on the Constitutional Treaty. The meeting, which was co-chaired by Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Mr Mendez de Vigo gathered together Members of the Parliament, EU civil servants and NGOs.
The meeting highlighted the fact that over 16% of the EU's population lives below the poverty threshold with children, migrants, large families, lone parents or disabled persons being particularly at risk. All speakers agreed that poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon that concerns not only monetary poverty but also fundamental human rights and includes aspects of discrimination, exclusion and limitation of options and choices.
During her intervention, Mrs Annelise Oeschger, President of the INGO of the Council of Europe, recalled the difficulties that preceded the establishment of a European social inclusion policy. She underlined that the adoption, in 1989, of the European Social Charter represented a significant step towards the definition of a specific legal base in the field of social exclusion and poverty which was finally substantiated in the Treaty of Amsterdam. Mrs Oeschger also recalled that the Open Method of Coordination in the field of social inclusion constitutes an important tool for the exchange and definition of policies targeted towards the eradication of poverty and inequalities in the labour market as well as full employment.
Mr Lay, Director of the Confederation of Family Organisations of the EU (COFACE), recalled that families and children are particularly vulnerable to poverty. While recalling the activities of the COFACE at EU level, Mr Lay expressed his satisfaction regarding the increased commitment of the European Commission to promote family friendly policies and insisted on the need to enable parents to conciliate family and professional life.
Mr Pacheco from the Constitutional Affairs Committee underlined that the integration of the social dimension into the negotiations on the Constitutional Treaty depended on the will of the Member States to change the objectives in order to highlight the social situation.
Mrs Panayotopoulos concluded the meeting by calling to mind that the European Spring Council reiterated the necessity to reinforce the social and economic cohesion in the EU with particular attention towards the eradication of child poverty. She added that the Council approved the proposal of the German Presidency to create an Alliance for Families. Mrs Panayotopoulos underlined that "the approval of a European Alliance for Families constitutes an additional step towards the inclusion of families in the European political agenda and the recognition of their contribution to the improvement of the demographic situation and the economic and social development of the EU". Mr. Mendez de Vigo recalled the necessity to integrate the social dimension in the new proposal for a Constitutional Treaty and stressed the importance of the EP's contribution to the future Intergovernmental Convention.
For further information:
Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
The Intergroup on Family and Protection of Childhood, together with the Fourth World European Committee Intergroup, organised yesterday in the EP in Strasbourg a meeting on the evolution of the social and family situation in Europe since the establishment of the European Community, as well as on the integration of these dimensions in the negotiations on the Constitutional Treaty. The meeting, which was co-chaired by Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou and Mr Mendez de Vigo gathered together Members of the Parliament, EU civil servants and NGOs.
The meeting highlighted the fact that over 16% of the EU's population lives below the poverty threshold with children, migrants, large families, lone parents or disabled persons being particularly at risk. All speakers agreed that poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon that concerns not only monetary poverty but also fundamental human rights and includes aspects of discrimination, exclusion and limitation of options and choices.
During her intervention, Mrs Annelise Oeschger, President of the INGO of the Council of Europe, recalled the difficulties that preceded the establishment of a European social inclusion policy. She underlined that the adoption, in 1989, of the European Social Charter represented a significant step towards the definition of a specific legal base in the field of social exclusion and poverty which was finally substantiated in the Treaty of Amsterdam. Mrs Oeschger also recalled that the Open Method of Coordination in the field of social inclusion constitutes an important tool for the exchange and definition of policies targeted towards the eradication of poverty and inequalities in the labour market as well as full employment.
Mr Lay, Director of the Confederation of Family Organisations of the EU (COFACE), recalled that families and children are particularly vulnerable to poverty. While recalling the activities of the COFACE at EU level, Mr Lay expressed his satisfaction regarding the increased commitment of the European Commission to promote family friendly policies and insisted on the need to enable parents to conciliate family and professional life.
Mr Pacheco from the Constitutional Affairs Committee underlined that the integration of the social dimension into the negotiations on the Constitutional Treaty depended on the will of the Member States to change the objectives in order to highlight the social situation.
Mrs Panayotopoulos concluded the meeting by calling to mind that the European Spring Council reiterated the necessity to reinforce the social and economic cohesion in the EU with particular attention towards the eradication of child poverty. She added that the Council approved the proposal of the German Presidency to create an Alliance for Families. Mrs Panayotopoulos underlined that "the approval of a European Alliance for Families constitutes an additional step towards the inclusion of families in the European political agenda and the recognition of their contribution to the improvement of the demographic situation and the economic and social development of the EU". Mr. Mendez de Vigo recalled the necessity to integrate the social dimension in the new proposal for a Constitutional Treaty and stressed the importance of the EP's contribution to the future Intergovernmental Convention.
For further information:
Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
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