Social Justice and Equality in Europe – is possible!

Caritas Europa published Social justice and equality in Europe – is possible! The Caritas roadmap in November 2016. It contained a vision for resilient social models in Europe that provided for the well-being of all people. This vision was based on the analysis of social realities on the ground.

Only by changing societal structures that systematically exclude parts of the population can society reduce inequalities and poverty. Family, labour market and social protection policies are key in this respect. They are interdependent policy areas that can reinforce each other’s positive outcomes. According to Caritas, these three areas form the pillars on which resilient social models are built upon. Such models are able to cope with economic, social and demographic challenges.

The Caritas social model provides an integrated approach for improving the well-being of people. Its recommendations can help design policies under the three key policy areas to effectively build solidarity and social cohesion. In particular:

+ Adopt a monthly child allowance; families with a low income should receive an increased amount of such allowance;
+ Ensure wage equality between women and men – equal pay for equal work;
+ Guarantee a means-tested minimum income that is above the poverty line;
+ Protect basic social rights by integrating them as human rights into national constitutions;
+ Use the Stability and Growth Pact’s flexibility clause to allow EU Member States to exempt social investment from the calculation of national budgetary expenditure.

Caritas Europa: Press Briefing, 23.11.16: Social justice and equality in Europe is possible! http://www.caritas.eu/sites/default/files/caritas_europa_-_briefing_-_european_social_models_publication.pdf

Caritas Europa: Press Release, 23.11.16: Injustice is not invincible http://www.caritas.eu/news/injustice-is-not-invincible

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