The fight against poverty, Europe's poor relation
(published in Ouest-France January 25, 2010) “Stop poverty! 
". The slogan under which the Spanish Presidency of the European Union and the European Commission placed themselves to launch, in Madrid, theeuropean year for combating poverty and social exclusion 2010, is ambitious. Indeed, the finding is “alarming”, as recalled yesterday by the Commissioner for Social Affairs, Vladimir Spidla. “Nearly 80 million Europeans (17% of the Union's population) live below the poverty line”. A sensitive subject in public opinion. According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, 9 out of 10 Europeans consider it “desirable for their government to take urgent measures to remedy” poverty.
The European Commission therefore intends to make this year an asset to “raise everyone's awareness of this issue and give decisive impetus to the construction of a society that promotes inclusion”. Different actions – contest for journalists, artistic exhibition, thematic week – will be organized during the year in this direction. But past the good words and extinguished the lanterns of this inauguration session, the reality is different. In 2000, the Heads of State and Government pledged to give “decisive impetus to the fight against exclusion”. If momentum there was, it remained ineffective. The poverty rate 10 years ago was 16%! One point less than today… In fact, the European Union has neither the will nor, above all, the means to act. According to the Treaties, it can only “encourage” the Member States to develop their cooperation, exchanges of information and good practices or finance certain national projects. The European Social Fund thus participates in the financing of integration pathways in France. But Brussels cannot in this case legislate or “harmonize national policies”. And the States ensure that there is no overflow. In the 1990s, the United Kingdom did not hesitate to seize European jurisdiction to prevent an overambitious European program to combat exclusion. With success...
". The slogan under which the Spanish Presidency of the European Union and the European Commission placed themselves to launch, in Madrid, theeuropean year for combating poverty and social exclusion 2010, is ambitious. Indeed, the finding is “alarming”, as recalled yesterday by the Commissioner for Social Affairs, Vladimir Spidla. “Nearly 80 million Europeans (17% of the Union's population) live below the poverty line”. A sensitive subject in public opinion. According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, 9 out of 10 Europeans consider it “desirable for their government to take urgent measures to remedy” poverty.The European Commission therefore intends to make this year an asset to “raise everyone's awareness of this issue and give decisive impetus to the construction of a society that promotes inclusion”. Different actions – contest for journalists, artistic exhibition, thematic week – will be organized during the year in this direction. But past the good words and extinguished the lanterns of this inauguration session, the reality is different. In 2000, the Heads of State and Government pledged to give “decisive impetus to the fight against exclusion”. If momentum there was, it remained ineffective. The poverty rate 10 years ago was 16%! One point less than today… In fact, the European Union has neither the will nor, above all, the means to act. According to the Treaties, it can only “encourage” the Member States to develop their cooperation, exchanges of information and good practices or finance certain national projects. The European Social Fund thus participates in the financing of integration pathways in France. But Brussels cannot in this case legislate or “harmonize national policies”. And the States ensure that there is no overflow. In the 1990s, the United Kingdom did not hesitate to seize European jurisdiction to prevent an overambitious European program to combat exclusion. With success...
Poverty line (raw - corrected with purchasing power)
Luxemburg: 1484 euros - 1434 euros
Denmark: 1133 euros 817 euros
United Kingdom: 965 euros - 894 euros
France: 809 euros - 760 euros
Germany ; 781 euro - 760 euro
European average (**): 697 euros
Slovenia: 466 euros - 625 euros
Portugal: €366 - €435
Latvia: 127 euros - 228 euros
(*) Amount under which a single person is considered at risk of poverty = 60% of the median income (social benefits included). The first column indicates the gross figure, the second column taking purchasing power (PPS)
(**) Out of 25 Member States, Romania and Bulgaria were not yet members of the EU in 2006
Source: Eurostat 2006