Growth and social cohesion must go together as an integral part of European future governance

In the context of the 2020 strategy and its new objective for inclusive growth, its target to reduce poverty by at least 20 million by 2020, its Flagship Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, and the new Guideline 10 on poverty and social exclusion, and in the light of the statements made in the Progress Report on the Europe 2020 Strategy that "there can be no sustainable growth unless its benefits accrue to all" and that "growth and social cohesion go together", the EESC calls upon the Council to ensure that:

  • a coherent approach to economic and social policy contributes to the elimination of poverty;
  • any proposed measures to reduce public deficits do not fall disproportionately on the poorest by reducing wages and benefits and cutting access to basic public services including health, education and housing;
  • due account is taken of the social and economic costs of exacerbating inequalities and social exclusion vis-à-vis the poorest and most vulnerable in our societies
  • proper attention is given to the social and economic benefits of investing in public services, social protection systems and inclusive labour markets in order to promote social cohesion.
     

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Annual Growth Survey
EESC President's statement to the Spring European Council 2011

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