Struggle against child poverty

As the third member of the Presidency Trio, Hungary wishes to continue the Spanish and Belgian Presidencies’ efforts in the fight against poverty, especially child poverty, as a major objective. A related conference held during the Belgian Presidency’s term, along with background materials and the commitment within the Europe 2020 Strategy, provide a solid basis for such work in the next six months. The Presidency would like Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs to adopt council conclusions at their meeting in March, on the European Platform against Poverty, proposed by the European Commission; and on the tasks of the Commission and member states to decrease child poverty.

BACKGROUND

According to the European Union’s definition, a person is poor if their income remains below 60 percent of the median income in a particular state. (Median is an income level compared to which the same number of people earns more and less). Nowadays, approximately 116 million EU citizens are living below the poverty threshold, or in social exclusion. The situation is especially aggravated by the fact that more than 20 million of them are children. This prompted the EU to declare 2010, the Year of Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion; and the Spanish-Belgian-Hungarian Presidency Trio to set the struggle against social exclusion, including the reduction of child poverty, as a priority.

In recent years, child poverty has been a priority area in member state cooperation against poverty. Essentially, this meant an exchange of experiences. The Belgian Presidency’s aim was to have the European Commission to encourage member states in their fight against child poverty with proposals, a stronger means of cooperation. Conferences were held, to discuss with key participants on what recommendations the Commission should formulate for member states. The most important message was that member states should assist families to improve their financial situation, and provide access to various services, and assisting children to participate in society.

On 17 June 2010 the European Council adopted the Europe 2020 Strategy for growth and employment, including five main objectives supported by quantifiable commitments. One of them is an obligation assumed by member states, to reduce the number of people living in poverty or social exclusion by 20 million, by 2020. The specific steps are laid down in European platform against poverty, a “flagship project” of the Strategy. The European Commission outlined the details on 16 December 2010.

OBJECTIVES

The Hungarian Presidency set a double objective in the struggle against poverty. Firstly, it seeks to successfully launch the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy, hence to formulate member states’ commitments in the fight against poverty. Secondly, it would like to pay special attention to Roma integration and the struggle against child poverty.

SIX MONTHS OF HUNGARIAN PRESIDENCY

To continue the Belgian Presidency’s work, the Hungarian Presidency aims to make member states adopt conclusions on reducing child poverty at the Employment and Social Affairs Council’s meeting in June. In it, the Council would evaluate the results obtained to date, and outline the steps which, still remains to be taken. The Hungarian Presidency will make a proposal to the member states, to ask the Commission for a recommendation on the management of child poverty.

The Hungarian Presidency seeks progress in the common supervision of member state policies on child poverty. In doing so, the Presidency relies on a study from early 2010, which was completed by TÁRKI market research institute for the Commission.