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Belgian EU Presidency sets fight on poverty in Europe as a key priority


Caritas Europa welcomes this orientation and remains hopeful it will not mean the non-fulfillment of earlier pledges to fight poverty globally


Brussels, 08 July 2010 - Caritas Europa is pleased to hear that the social dimension and fighting poverty in Europe is a priority of the Belgian EU Presidency. Nevertheless, the network expects the EU to apply a global dimension to this priority. The forthcoming UN Summit on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in September will be the optimal forum where to deliver outcomes implying immediate, concrete actions for fighting poverty globally.  

“It is very important, in order to reach the MDGs, that the EU demonstrates leadership and sets an example to other donors at the UN Summit in September” says Elisabet Carlsson, Caritas Europa Policy Officer for International Cooperation. 

Environmental sustainability is the right of all people

Caritas Europa deeply believes that all people have the right to environmental sustainability. The network calls on European decision-makers to reassert the EU’s role as a leader in climate targets ahead of the next climate conference in Cancun in December.

“The EU Presidency must ensure that all EU internal and external policies do not undermine development objectives in non-EU countries,” continues Elisabet Carlsson, and she adds “An EU single voice for broadening peace and security should not undermine EU efforts for development of poor countries or endanger the role of humanitarian actors for crisis-affected populations.”


WTO Doha Round

     
Local Caritas partners are cooking hot meals to also feed the children’s caretakers at emergency feeding centres

Local Caritas partners are cooking hot meals to also feed the children’s caretakers at emergency feeding centres

 

      

In the context of a future reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as discussed in the Doha round, Caritas Europa advocates the creation of mechanisms for stabilising prices of basic food materials in order to prevent another crisis of soaring food prices. Caritas Europa urges the EU to support such mechanisms during the WTO negotiations. In addition, the EU should promote the consolidation of regional integration in a comprehensive manner.  

When asked about the importance of a comprehensive policy on regional integration, Elisabet Carlsson explains: “Regional integration cannot be reduced to integration through trade, but it must be based on processes aiming at reinforcing economic, social, political and institutional links, involving actors from civil society and under parliamentary control. Therefore we ask the EU to seriously consider regional integration before establishing free trade agreements which may undermine the development of poor regions.” 

Caritas Europa welcomes the inclusion of safe-guarding and promotion of human rights on the agenda of the EU Presidency, and urges this approach to be equally considered in all EU external actions.


For further information please contact:
Elisabet Carlsson
Junior Policy Officer for International Cooperation
Tel: +32 (0)2 235 26 55
E-Mail: ecarlsson@caritas-europa.org  

 

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