Caritas: European austerity measures threaten social services
December 21, 2011
Caritas Europa--the confederation of Catholic relief and development agencies in 47 nations--is expressing concern that European nations’ austerity measures threaten social services for the poor.
“The governments focus on reductions in public expenditure on social security benefits and services, wage reductions and increases in tax will disproportionately impact upon the poorest in society,” a recent Caritas Europa report found. “The austerity measures pursued by many countries will result in the erosion of social services, what will lead to further exclusion of people who already find themselves on the margins of society.”
“The macro-economic approach underpinning the Europe 2020 strategy fails to understand the interdependence of economic development, social development and environmental protection,” Caritas added, referring to the European Commission’s economic growth strategy. “States have to understand that all three pillars--the economic, the social and the environmental one--need each other simultaneously for a truly sustainable growth.”
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Further information:
- Caritas Europe warning as austerity measures kick in (Vatican Radio)
- Europe 2020 Strategy Must Include both Economic and Social Dimensions (Caritas Internationalis)
- Europe 2020 Shadow Report (Caritas Europa)
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