The fact that 118 million EU citizens (meaning 23.5 % of the EU population) are still living at risk of poverty or social exclusion, represents a failure of our political and economic systems, which need a radical reprogramming in order to make the EU Poverty Free according to the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN).
On 17 October 2018, the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, EAPN calls on the EU to MAKE EUROPE POVERTY FREE!
On the eve of 17 October, the message “Nobody deserves less, everybody benefits” #EUPovertyFree was projected on the wall of the National Bank in Brussels!
“An economic and political system which allows almost 25% of the citizens of the wealthiest continent in the world to live at risk of poverty or social exclusion is a system which is morally bankrupt. These systems need to be reprogrammed, recognising that the eradication of poverty is a public good, and thus a moral and political imperative for our leaders,” said Leo Williams, EAPN Director.
Part of this reprogramming must be ensuring the progressive realisation of well-designed Minimum Income Schemes. These schemes guarantee income support for everybody who needs it, for as long as they need it, enough to live a life in dignity and fully participate in society. In cash-based societies the absence of good quality Minimum Income Schemes exposes people to take intolerable risks.
“The minimum income scheme was clearly not enough but it allowed me to feed my children and to ensure they could continue with their education,” added Cidalia Barriga, EAPN activist with direct experience of poverty.
Well-designed Minimum Income Schemes (MIS) do not only benefit the people who need them, but are better for everybody. They are indispensable for more equal societies; higher levels of equality tend to lead to happier and more cohesive societies. Minimum Income Schemes represent a small percentage of social spending and have a high return on investment, while the cost of non-investment has enormous negative impacts for the individuals concerned and high long-term costs for society.
This is why we invite all European citizens to sign our petition for Guaranteed Minimum Income schemes (aimed at Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, and all national Ministers for Social Affairs and Heads of State or government)
As Carlos Susias, EAPN President said, “we know that change is possible, at local, national and European levels. With this action, we want to invite people to express their support for a Europe Free of Poverty. We can all be part of the change that we need!”
