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“People’s Europe: dream or reality?”
By Conny Reuter
President of Social Platform
First of all I would to thank you for the invitation to your conference and
to honoring me by giving me the opportunity to address to select audience.
This conference is timely, not only because it takes place before the next
referendum in Ireland, but in particular because there is a need in times of
crisis to not only focus on the economy, but on the citizen’s Europe for all
citizens. People first must become the reality!
And here in this conference I have to underline that the participation in
the European process must be open to all: women and men, migrants, young and
old, disabled or not. Nothing about us, nothing without us. And “us” should
be extended to all citizens.
It’s also timely because we will soon have the European elections and we
will probably all be disappointed! I am not speaking about the final result,
but I refer to the number of people voting vote which is expected to be even
less than 5 years ago.
For decades we have been discussing Social Europe and the involvement of the
citizens. There is not a gap to be bridged, but a need to really
- connect the citizens with processes,
- challenge the policies and
- involve citizens better.
And this is the reason – I have to say it clearly – that we, social NGOs,
are in favor of the Lisbon Treaty because it is an important step to ensure
the fundamental rights, offering more citizens participation and social
services.
The fathers of the European Union certainly had a dream, but this dream was
their answer to the suffering caused by two world wars. It is often claimed
that the European Union is based more on the economy than anything else, but
we have another understanding: that the economical and political cooperation
has led to more sharing, more cooperation and more understanding on this
continent and that the European Union was and is based on values.
When we speak about dreams, I may quote a German saying which goes “Those
who do not dare to dream will not have the power to fight” and we have to
fight for a more social Europe and a better share of the wealth.
The Europe I am dreaming of is a place where all people live in dignity,
have decent work and a decent life, where poverty, social exclusion,
discrimination and racism are eradicated and where Europe shows a real
solidarity with the other continents, in particular those of the southern
hemisphere. I dream the dream to find the energy to fight.
Because when we face the realities, the European world is more complicated
and the dream turns into a nightmare:
- every month 500.000 jobs are lost,
- poverty is rising
- social exclusion is growing
- social justice and equality are not guaranteed.
We see that the European Union is trying to give an answer to this complicated relationship between Member States, Council, Commission and European Parliament.
The EU has submitted a recovery plan which also focuses on the most
vulnerable and refers to investment in social infrastructure. The EP voted
last week on Jean Lambert’s report on active inclusion and we want the
transposition of the directive in national law.
We have the ongoing debate on Social Services and Social Services of General
Interest. They are at the core of the European Social Model (which has shown
up to now its efficiency in this systemic crisis). Perhaps it’s not a
directive that’s needed, but a legal and policy framework allowing
affordable, accessible and high quality social services provided by
not-for-profit organisations and financially supported by the public
authorities. Approaching this sector only as a market will lead to more
inequality and less social justice and we need a level playing field for
organisations of the social economy as social service providers and of civil
society organisations as lobby and advocacy groups.
With your help and the pressure of social NGO’s we got the
anti-discrimination directive. Now we have to lobby for it in the European
Parliament and Member State level, and work then together on implementation
and assessment.
The next step will be the Budapest conference on 25 and 26 June on “The role
of civil society and trade unions in combating discrimination” and later in
autumn the Equality summit under Swedish Presidency.
As Social Platform we will contribute to the process and we need your input
as European Blind Union on European and of your members at national level.
The EU has presented a draft guidebook on social impact assessment which we
really welcome. It may change the way of making policy if the social impact
is at the same level as the environmental impact because we want a new
Lisbon agenda based on a social and environmental sustainable development
with a smart green growth and job creation.
We also call for a better involvement of social NGO’s around legislative
initiatives in the fields concerning our activities.
We all know that more can be done to address social challenges and adapt to
new social realities in Europe.
Since 2000 Member States have used the OMC to coordinate their efforts and
promote social progress. The Commission proposed in 2008 ways to reinforce
the OMC in the field of social protection and social inclusion. We at Social
Platform believe that we need a reinforced social OMC in the frame of new
Lisbon strategy after 2010 and this means besides targeting to increase:
- political commitment, coherence and visibility of the social OMC
- ownership on the national level
- participation of civil society organisations
- strategic mutual learning
- link social OMC with EU funding for inclusion
- strengthen the monitor process
As you can see , Social Platform and its members are present in the policy
making process, but we need nevertheless a more genuine civil dialogue,
better structured and even more transparent.
Consultation and dialogue are not the same. On the EU level we want to be
regularly consulted on policy making in our fields of competence based on:
- an inter- institutional agreement for civil dialogue
- practical guidelines
- European status for European CSO’s
- Minimum standards for funding of citizens organisations
- An clear identification in the college of Commissioners
- User-friendly database
- Reformed EESC
- We urge a more structured dialogue with all EU institutions and see civil dialogue in addition to social dialogue.
Let us continue to dream although we are not dreamers,
Let them call us philanthropists, or we are at the forefront of social
realities,
Let us build together a more social Europe which meets people’s needs and
gives them security for their social and professional existence.
Let us work together!
Disclaimer: This document has been supported by the European Commission. The
content of this document is the sole responsibility of its publishers and
represents in no way the views of the Commission and its services.