Every citizen of the EU is entitled to a dignified life. Unfortunately, already before the crisis, many members of society were socially excluded and pushed into poverty and their number will increase as a result of the crisis. In order to curb this process we have to raise awareness and promote action at all possible levels of governance.
Social inclusion must be actively promoted by providing general access to active labour market policies. Contrary to the conservative and liberal standpoints, we believe that stronger policies are needed to actively combat poverty by reducing social inequality and the number of working poor, and ensuring a basic income and social integration scheme for all. Active labour market policies and re-training also have to support industrial restructuring, as they reinforce job creation together.
The EU should take advantage of the potential of the European Social Fund to integrate the unemployed into the labour market and to train workers. At national level, special attention must be paid to integrating women, migrants and other disadvantaged groups into the labour market and make use of their innovation potential, for example by providing access to micro-credits.