Mr President, on behalf of the Group of the European Democratic Alliance I want to stress at the outset how deeply we regret that the Council has not been able to adopt the 1994-1999 medium-term action programme to combat exclusion and promote solidarity.

The Council's failure to adopt the programme sends out an appalling signal to the people of Europe. Is it any wonder that many people have a cynical attitude about the Community. Poverty and social exclusion must not be brushed under the table. They are fundamental social challenges facing each and every Member State. We have a responsibility to face up to these challenges together.

Despite the very small budget, the previous programmes have enabled a number of pilot projects to be undertaken in each Member State. They have contributed to creating exchange networks linking local authorities, non-governmental organizations and management and labour organizations. The delay in adopting the new programme seriously puts at risk all the expertise built up over the years, and this must not be allowed to happen.

Europe must be united in its concern about poverty. The Council must show by adopting the programme that it is prepared to consolidate its past achievements and to build on new ones. With an estimated 50 million poor people in the Community, 17 million people without jobs, and some five million people homeless, over 70% of whom are younger than 40 years of age, the Community must play its part in contributing to the efforts of the Member States themselves to tackle poverty and social exclusion.