Poverty and income

The European Parliament is today debating tackling poverty in the context of the European and international years focusing on poverty eradication. MEPs are also set to adopt a non-legislative report (1), which includes a call for an EU framework directive on minimum income, a long-standing Greens/EFA proposal. In the context of the debate, UK Green MEP Jean Lambert said:

"Ten years on from an EU commitment to tackling poverty, there has been no real progress, with 84 million people or 17% of the EU population still at risk of poverty. It is high time European politicians translated their rhetoric on tackling poverty into action. The Greens believe that a framework directive on minimum income would be a crucial step to tackling poverty in Europe and welcome that the European Parliament is poised to support this call.

"The current blinkered focus on short-term austerity measures risks creating more serious economic and social problems in the long-term. Making the poor pay for a crisis they did not create through brutal cuts will only push greater numbers into poverty and that will benefit no-one. Poverty eradication must remain a key priority and this means focusing on active inclusion policies by promoting adequate income, an active labour market and quality public services."

French Green MEP Karima Delli added:

"The Lisbon strategy has failed in its mission to eradicate poverty, with 84 million at risk of poverty in Europe. As a concrete step to addressing this, we are calling on the European Commission a framework directive to define an adequate minimum income. This should set out to ensure eligibility and access to adequate minimum income for all. We cannot continue to sit on our hands: 'the end of poverty' should no longer be a slogan but a reality."

(1) Figueiriedo report on the role of minimum income in combating poverty and promoting an inclusive society in Europe.