(ANS - Brussels) – On 26 and 27 November, a Salesian Delegation participated in the Third Convention of the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, organized in Brussels by the European Commission.
The Convention is a flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 Strategy which has among its priorities reducing rates of early school leavers to less than 10 % and helping at least 20 million people out of poverty and marginalization.
The Salesian delegation was made up of:
The situation in the European Union is not simple. Despite some positive data in terms of economic growth, there are millions of people living in poverty and their number is increasing. In the next five years there are plans to invest 71.3 billion Euro, of which 20 % will focus on social projects aimed at combating poverty and social exclusion.
During the meeting, the delegation met the Commissioner for Employment, Mr. Lazlo Andor, and the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of the Italian government - which will assume the presidency of the European commission for the next six months – and stressed the importance of proper application of the Guarantees of Youth and the need to invest in education.
The Salesian Social Platform and the Confederation of Don Bosco Youth Centres in Spain presented the project Emancipa-T3 on education and reintegration into the labour market of young people between 18 and 21 years who live in situations of poverty and social exclusion.
The delegation also participated actively in various workshops to contribute to the Commission's policy to break the cycle of poverty among children and to promote the social inclusion of marginalized young people, migrants and Roma.
Published 12/12/2012
