B4-0237, 0238, 0239 and 0245/94

Resolution on an Action Programme to combat exclusion and promote solidarity: a new programme to support and stimulate innovation (1994-1999)

The European Parliament,

-having regard to Council Decision 85/8/EEC of 19 December 1984 on specific action to combat poverty,

-having regard to Council Decision 89/457/EEC of 18 July 1989 establishing a medium-term community action programme concerning the economic and social integration of the economically and socially less privileged groups in society,

-having regard to the resolution of the Council and of the Ministers for Social Affairs meeting within the Council of 29 September 1989 on combating social exclusion,

-having regard to Commission communication of 23 December 1992 'Towards a Europe of Solidarity, Intensifying the fight against Social Exclusion, fostering integration' (COM(92)0542),

-having regard to its resolution of 13 July 1993 on combating poverty and social exclusion in the European Community,

-having regard to Commission's proposal for a Council Decision establishing a Medium-term action programme to combat exclusion and promote solidarity: a new programme to support and stimulate innovation (1994-1999) (COM(93)0435) and the proposed doubling of the funds to this end,

-having regard to its opinion of 24 February 1994 on that proposal and its resolution of 24 February 1994 on poverty among women in Europe,

-having regard to its resolution of 3 May 1994 on the Green Paper entitled: "European Social Policy - Options for the Union",

-having regard to Article 1 of the Agreement on Social Policy annexed to the EC Treaty which states that: "The Community and the Member States shall have as their objectives the promotion of employment, improved living and working conditions, proper social protection, dialogue between management and labour, the development of human resources with a view to lasting high employment and the combating of exclusion,

A.whereas the Commission estimates that there are around 50 million people in the Community living below the poverty level of 50% of the average (per capita) Member State income, who consequently find themselves on the margins of or excluded from society,

B.whereas studies conducted by the European Federation of national organizations working with the homeless (FEANTSA) reveal that the number of homeless is in excess of 5 million, or 1.5% of the total population, and that 70% of the homeless are below the age of 40,

C.whereas, the Commission was authorized by Council Decision 89/457/EEC to implement a specific action programme concerning the economic and social integration of the economically and socially less privileged groups, and whereas this programme was due to come to an end on 30 June 1994,

D.whereas the resources allocated at Community and national level to eradicate poverty and social exclusion and reduce the number of people living in precarious situations remain insufficient,

E.whereas poverty and social exclusion cannot be solely a matter for social policy; whereas economic policies must be designed to prevent poverty and exclusion from developing further,

F.whereas social exclusion is growing in all countries as result of the recession and the policies followed by the Member States, and whereas this leads to marginalization which particularly affects women and children,

G.whereas poverty and social exclusion are unacceptable affronts to human dignity and constitute real infringements of human rights,

H.whereas, on 17 October 1994, the UN World Day to overcome extreme poverty, there was a call for the fight against poverty to be stepped up,

1.Calls on the Council to accept its responsibilities in implementing the principles set out in the Treaties of the Union, and in the decisions, resolutions and recommendations adopted on social exclusion, in order to make real the social dimension of the Internal market;

2.Reminds the Council of Parliament's resolution of 28 October 1993 on social exclusion in which Council was asked to bring forward a proposal to counter the ever-increasing number of disadvantaged people in our society:

3. Deplores the fact that the German Presidency did not see fit to include the Poverty IV programme on the agenda of its Council meeting of 22 September and therefore has not advanced the discussion of this important subject in any way;

4.Urges Council, at a time of great need in our society, to adopt the increased appropriations voted by Parliament in the budget for the fight against poverty with a view to the early adoption of the Poverty IV Programme with proper financial provision;

5.Insists that the proposed doubling of the funds for the Poverty IV Programme is the absolute minimum requirement to advance this policy and underlines that this can in no way begin to resolve the problem of over 50 million people who live in poverty;

6.Deplores the arguments of the Presidency invoking the principle of subsidiarity in order not to tackle the problem of poverty at European level as the new Poverty IV programme provides for action against poverty at local, regional, national and Community level;

7.Considers that to abandon the action programme would constitute an extremely negative signal regarding the Member States' determination to build up a Europe of greater solidarity;

8.Stresses also the need to adopt a decision without delay in order to avoid losing the benefits of the experience gained during previous programmes;

9.Urges Council to place this item on its agenda for the December meeting of the Social Affairs Council and in the meantime to seek agreement among the representatives of Council to adopt this programme;

10.Instructs the President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments and governments of the Member States, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions and the social partners.