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Caritas Europa encourages inter-institutional dialogue among European Institutions on 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion


Press information. Brussels, 06 March 2008 - Representatives of the European Commission, the Slovenian EU presidency and the European Parliament met last Tuesday at the European Parliament in Brussels for a roundtable/dinner event, co-organised by Caritas Europa and sponsored by Ms Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, MEP from Luxembourg.

The European Commission has submitted a proposal for decision to the Council and the European Parliament to proclaim 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Therefore, Mr Antoine Saint-Denis in charge of preparing the initiative at the European Commission was invited to provide a keynote address on the subject.

The roundtable debate was chaired by Ms Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, MEP, and Fr Erny Gillen, President of Caritas Europa. During the debate and the following dinner, MEPs met for an informal exchange the Caritas Europa Executive Board composed of high representatives from 8 European Caritas organisations (Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine).

    Chairpersons of the roundtable debate: Ms. Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, MEP from Luxemburg, and Fr. Erny Gillen, President of Caritas Europa. Photo: Caritas Europa


Chairpersons of the roundtable debate: Ms Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, MEP from Luxemburg, and Fr Erny Gillen, President of Caritas Europa. 

Photo: Caritas Europa

Identified by the European Commission as one of the key stakeholders in the areas of Social Protection and Social Inclusion, Caritas Europa participated in the consultation which led to settle the orientations of the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. The contribution submitted to the European Commission by the Caritas Europa network underlined that poverty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, which is very often close connected with isolation. A challenge for our societies is to apply integrated approaches - when designing policies for poverty reduction.

The organisation is also carrying out an advocacy campaign calling for decision makers in Europe to fully support the Commission's initiative. Among others, Caritas Europa has written to the President, political groups and relevant committees of the European Parliament, as well as, to the President of the European Economic and Social Committee, the President of the Committee of the Regions and Permanent representatives of the EU Member States.

“We are happy to have brought to the same table representatives of the main EU Institutions in order to discuss about this important initiative,” said Fr Erny Gillen, President of Caritas Europa, after the event held last Tuesday. He added, “We will continue our advocacy efforts at national level involving the Parliaments of the EU Member States”.


For more information, please contact:

Annalisa Mazzella
Advocacy and Communication Officer
Tel:  +32 (0)2 235 03 94
Email: amazzella@caritas-europa.org



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Related links

04.02.08 - Caritas Europa supports the European Commission's designation of 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 


 

 
 
 

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