Tuesday, 15 November 2011 - Strasbourg

Explanations of vote:

Relazione: Frédéric Daerden (A7-0370/2011 )

Pino Arlacchi (S&D ), in writing . − I voted for this report because it clearly reaffirms the commitment made by the EU at the start of the Lisbon Strategy to have ‘a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty’. I would like to underline that it is impossible to reduce poverty or to boost inclusive growth if nothing is done to combat inequality and discrimination, or if there is no solidarity with the weakest groups in society. We should also consider that the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and people with disabilities, have been those most severely affected by the financial, economic and social crisis.

For this reason, the austerity measures must not undermine employment and social protection, worsen the situation for the most disadvantaged or put at risk of unemployment or poverty millions of people who were previously still managing to live on their wages or retirement pensions. With this text, we call on the Commission to play a coordinating role and to guide the Member States to meet the current challenges, and combat poverty and social exclusion. Indeed, the objectives of decreasing the number of poor people by 20 million in the EU by 2020 must remain a top priority.

[source:www.europarl.europa.eu]